A pretty brave movie about a teacher taking in his troubled student.
Looking at “Brave the Dark” reminds me of one of the worst independent movies I have ever seen called “The Favor.” It featured a man who takes in his dead girlfriend’s son, who is a junkie. I vaguely remember it, but I know almost every scene was cynical and aggravating. I’m just glad it barely saw the light of day.
“Brave the Dark,” however, is miles and miles ahead of that. As a faith-based drama, you may get some corny dialogue, but you also get some real emotions and optimism. I’m a film critic who can sense good intentions when I see them. And in this movie, there’s more optimism than cynicism.
The time is set in the 1980s in Pennsylvania. We meet Nate (Nicholas Hamilton, Henry Bowers in the “It” movies), who lives in his car, robs stores, but attends school and joins the track team so he can take a shower. He gets arrested for his crimes, but his English and Drama teacher Stan Deen (Jared Harris) is the only person willing to help him. Even letting him stay with him. After all his motto is: “This too shall pass.”
The kid needs to prove to the judge that he can be reformed. But of course, he has to have many obstacles, including his girlfriend dumping him, the obligatory teen parties, and how he struggles to adapt to his teacher and caretaker’s optimism. Even he thinks Stan is expecting something in return, when the old man gives him a real Christmas with presents. But the kid realizes the distinction, when one day in class before this sudden change, the teacher rewards him with a Hershey’s bar for his school work. In fact, it was the only food he had eaten within those few days.
And a recurring moment (if not a gag) is how Stan basically knows everyone, and Nate asks him if there’s anybody he doesn’t know. This teacher is a real people person.
The girlfriend scenes are so under-developed, that the film requires less conversations and more disapproval towards the boy. In fact, they’re kind of inferior to the arguments between Alexis Demie and Kelvin Harrison, Jr. in “Waves.” But “Brave the Dark” isn’t supposed to focus on those kind of relationship issues, but rather between the teacher’s kindness and the boy’s tragic past, which involve his dead mother and what really happened to her.
Harris does a good job at using an American accent for his character, but he also displays the right tone for his character. And Hamilton delivers his character with emotions and consistency. Both of them manage to overcome whatever flaws the movie aims them in, and they’re certainly a lot more sincere than what was displayed last week with the action comedy “Back in Action” and the horror reboot “Wolf Man.”
“Brave the Dark” is, of course, based on a true story with the teacher and student overcoming the odds. And director Damian Harris (son of the late Richard Harris) makes some valid points about their lives. His screenplay isn’t perfect, but it is inspiring and truthful. I guess these faith-based dramas have gotten better through the years. It’s either that or I’m being optimistic.