Movieman Madness: Cinema Spotlight V - David F. Sandberg (Part 1): "Lights Out"

Born in Jönköping, Sweden, David F. Sandberg's passion for cinema began when working at a video rental store in his late teens. Since then, he has made various shorts, commercials, and documentaries; many submitted in film festivals and uploaded on YouTube (goes by the name ponysmasher). One of his videos went viral that before he could say "I'm going to Hollywood," the Swedish YouTuber got the call. What was it about this particular short that garnered such popularity to warrant a movie deal? Let's just say, you might want to keep the lights on for this.

Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) gets a call from school that her little brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) has been falling asleep in class (not the first time to happen). When asked if something is happening at home, she bluntly answers that she doesn't live there anymore. Not being on good terms with her mother Sophie (Maria Bello), since her father left, Rebecca lives on her own, occasionally letting her boyfriend Bret (Alexander DiPersia) sleepover. Sophie hasn't been herself even after remarrying, her life keeps falling into shambles as she is left to care for Martin. Afterwards, Martin explains to Rebecca that their mom is becoming more unhinged and suspects that something else is living in the house. A silhouette of a gangling woman that appears only when the lights are turned off.

Martin (Babriel Bateman), Rebecca (Teresa Palmer), and Bret (Alexander DiPersia).

Sandberg already proved himself on making scary material in under two minutes and expanding his own concept proved to be no problem. With a screenplay from Eric Heisserer (Arrival & Birdbox) adding the stillness and suspense and producer James Wan (The Conjuring & Insidious) assisting on the scares, Lights Out succeeds on making you scared of the dark.

Sophie (Maria Bello)

The plot thickens as the mystery of this shadowy figure is unraveled and for every moment the movie starts to fall into the cliches of the genre, it quickly rebounds and subverts several troupes. Characters can make mistakes but quickly come up with some smart decisions. Others might start one-dimensional but we see them grow as the threat looms closer.

Palmer proves that when given the right direction, models can be great actors. Funny enough, she was planned to be in Mad Max: Fury Road, another film that had models delivering superb acting, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Either way she ended up in a excellent movie. Even when given the cold shoulder, DiPersia as her boyfriend is surprisingly supportive and not a stereotypical jerk usually seen in these movies. Young Bateman is a great child actor and Bello convincingly plays the part of a person in desperate need of mental help. If there was one thing the short did better was that the monster looked more creepy than in the movie but stunt-woman Alicia Vela-Bailey works with what she has and still sent shivers up my spine.

A few things caught my eye that I'd see reappear in Sandberg's later work. First is the conflict of a child wishing to be part of a family. A cameo from the director's wife Lotta Losten who starred in the original short. The use of of lights whether illuminating with relief or flickering with fear, and use of dark shots as characters walk alone. Finally, the build-up and confrontation with the demonic monster bearing silver eyes.

The movie made its world premiere on July 22, 2016 with positive results with a majority of critics and at the box-office. A dream come true for Sandberg on finally making a full-length motion picture and it all began with leaving the lights off. What was he to do next? Wan was impressed with his first movie that he gave made him an offer for his next project. They would work together again and it take place in one of Wan's established cinematic universes......

Franchise Foreshadowing:

Martin revealed as a DC Comics fan. Wonder if he knows Billy Batson.

Along with the Batman shirt he also has a Robin action figure.

A poster of the Justice League can be seen right behind his head.

Another Batman shirt featured in an alternate ending.

Trademarks:

Lost Child

Martin is scarred to be with his mother who isn't right in the head.
He wants to help her but can't do it alone.
He misses his Dad and older step-sister, wishing they would come back.

Creative logo opening

Lotta Losten

Sandberg's wife who starred in the original short makes a quick cameo in the prologue.
Since her husband's early days of filmmaking she appeared in a majority of his work;
serving as the Stan Lee of his movies.

Plot Paper