Darklands: The Obscure British Horror That Haunted My Childhood

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For years, a strange horror movie called Darklands haunted my thoughts, so I finally tracked it down – and regretted it. I grew up watching a lot of horror, like Halloween and Hellraiser, sometimes before I was really ready for it. Those movies were scary, but also exciting. Darklands, however, was just unsettling.

Every now and then, I’d stumble upon a movie that truly disturbed me. Films like Day of the Dead or Lucio Fulci’s Zombie Flesh Eaters were particularly memorable for their graphic violence, and watching them at a younger age—before I was supposed to—made them even more shocking. However, revisiting those films as an adult wasn’t quite the same experience.

I often remembered movies being scarier or more impactful than they actually were when I rewatched them. Like, the scene in Superman III where a woman becomes a cyborg was really frightening to me and a lot of other people growing up, but it doesn’t hold up very well today – it just seems silly. I had a similar experience when I finally found a copy of the 1996 film Darklands.

The Obscure British Horror Darklands Terrified Me As A Child

I stumbled across the film Darklands one night in the 1990s without knowing anything about it. It’s about a journalist (played by Craig Fairbrass) who starts investigating a suspicious death. As he uncovers more, he finds himself targeted by a dangerous cult that practices black magic and human sacrifice.

I remember Darklands being one of the most disturbing British horror films I’ve ever watched. The shocking and mature content – like the graphic chainsaw murder of a priest and the haunting image of a man being dragged towards a sacrificial altar – stayed with me for years.

That ending was one of the first genuinely depressing ones I’d ever seen, and Darklands finished on a particularly bleak note. I never watched it again, not out of fear, but because I forgot the title. For years, I actually thought it might have been an episode of a British horror series like Chiller.

Darklands Is A Shameless Copy Of The Wicker Man

I recently stumbled upon the trailer for Darklands while watching a stream, and it reminded me of my past enjoyment of the film. I decided to rewatch it, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my memories and was a bit disappointing, despite having some good qualities.

Darklands shares many similarities with The Wicker Man, a story about someone becoming the target of a pagan cult. Like the earlier film, Darklands features a hero who unknowingly trusts people working with the cult, and it even includes similar musical moments. Essentially, the 1996 horror film feels like a modern, city-based retelling of the classic Christopher Lee movie.

Darklands stands out as the first horror film made in Wales. Although it features some genuinely creepy moments and a strong performance by Mark Fairbrass, it often suffers in comparison to The Wicker Man. Weak performances from some of the supporting cast and a somewhat disjointed plot also hold it back.

I Wish I Had Left Darklands As A Powerful Memory

Returning to Darklands felt complicated. I really wanted to enjoy it, and there are definitely parts I do like – the last 20 minutes are particularly scary. But honestly, the game existed in my memory as a frightening, confusing experience from childhood, and the finished product just doesn’t quite recapture that same feeling.

If you’re looking for a lesser-known but effectively scary horror movie from the 90s, Darklands is worth checking out. Personally, though, watching it again reminded me that sometimes it’s best to leave childhood favorites in the past.

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2025-10-26 17:12