Brave the Dark
Brave the Dark
Starring Jared Harris, Nicholas Hamilton, Jamie Harris, Sasha Bhasin
Directed by Damian Harris
In Pennsylvania in the late 80s, Nate (Nicholas Hamilton) is a high school student secretly living out of his car since his parents have died, and he has a big chip on his shoulder. Although an accomplished runner, he spends his time with a rough crowd that go around town robbing places and just being a nuisance. When he's arrested, Stan Deen (Jared Harris), one of the teachers in his school, takes Nate under his wing and invites the young man to live with him after his own mother passed away. As the two polar opposites learn to co-exist, they also glean from each other that makes them more well-rounded, as Nate's tragic past comes more into focus.
While watching "Brave the Dark" I was reminded of other films like "Dead Poets Society," "Stand and Deliver" and "Freedom Writers" that center on a troubled student and dedicated teacher and how they learn off one another, but this won't be a film that'll be recognized among this pantheon of subgenre films - in fact, it probably won't be remembered by year's end when I compile my list, probably leaving a word like "eh" as a description. That might be a more negative view than what it is, but ultimately this is a passion project film that tries to elevate itself, but stifled by its small budget and lackluster cast, just feels mediocre and better suited for a made-for-television movie.
Again, that's making it sound harsher than it is, and it's really not fair. Jared Harris did an admirable job as Stan Deen, a man that we need more of in this world. He's friendly, kind and generous, and takes in Nate when no one else would. He is the epitome of an excellent teacher, but not without his flaws, which are exposed by Nate - he's lonely, he has no one in his life, and he's looking for something to grab onto.
Conversely, "It" star Nicholas Hamilton plays Nate as you'd expect from a James Deen (odd that both their last names are the same) type character: brooding bad boy with a heart of gold that wears a leather jacket and wreaks havoc because they're concealing past hurts and don't know how to express them. Nate is a broken kid, and when Stan takes him in, Nate is hesitant because he's always believed his whole life that no one does anything out of the kindness of their own heart. Much like he exposes Stan's need for companionship, Stan exposes Nate's need to be loved and accepted for who he is, and helps him break through his past barriers.
While the film follows the traditional tropes, "Brave the Dark" is also a true story that touches on the importance of caring for one another, seeing people beyond their faults, and opening yourself up for other people to help you heal.
The Score: C
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