5 reasons you might like Don’t Look in the Dark (2026)

I hope you like aural…a u r a l, get your mind out of the gutter.

I am Jason Kleeberg, this is Force Five, and here are 5 reasons you might want to see the found footage horror film called Don’t Look in the Dark, directed by Sam Freeman.

Reason number 5, if you’re into found footage films, this takes the formula of found footage and turns it into something completely foreign. There are some lazy found footage films out there that kind of break the immersion but this feels pretty authentic outside of the explanation for why the cameras are constantly filming, which is never really explained. Actually, the film doesn’t explain much, which I think is a good thing. All we know is that a couple is hiking in the Pine Barrons when she thinks sees a child.

Reason number 4, if you find it funny listening to strangers bickering, you’ll probably find the main characters amusing. Both characters are extremely annoying to the point that you’ll wonder why the heck they’re having a baby together, it’s like spending an hour with a pregnant woman and an even more insufferable Balky from Perfect Strangers.

Reason number 3, if you liked Skinamarink, this is very much in the same vein. It’s an extremely experimental horror film that will be best experienced with a crowd in a very dark theater or a very dark room because I’d estimate that 65-70% of the film is completely black. The short clips you do see are found footage-style vertical videos that splice in and out of frame. Skinamarink was a very divisive movie, but those who liked it really seemed to like it, so if you call into that camp, check this one out. 

Reason number 2, if you’re afraid of the dark, especially when you’re in the woods, this one will probably unsettle you. Like I said, most of the movie is pitch black darkness with the main characters in conversation. In early reviews, I’ve seen a lot of people say that’s the part that really got to them, so if you’re afraid of the dark and want that kind of experience, this should hit the spot. The screener I got actually had two different links with two different gamma setups for the screen you’d be watching it on, so this is very much intended.

Reason number 1, if you’re into experimental films, this is about as experimental as they get. It’s less visual horror and more audible horror, with images rarely lasting more than a second on screen. When they do, because of the darkness of the experience, you might see one thing while another person sees nothing, or you might just see different things. It was shot on a micro budget and according to Sam Freeman, the director, he had one goal in mind - to create a theatrical experience like no other.

If any of those things sounded intriguing, you should check this out when it’s widely released. I can imagine the reception to this film being very love it/hate it, because it’s really for fans of vibes over story and I feel like stories like this . If you’re into Skinamarink, you’ll probably really like this. Have you seen Don’t Look in the Dark? If so, what did you think of it? And what’s your favorite found footage flick? Let me know down below or hit me up at forcefivepodcast@gmail.com.