Seeing a group of friends who have drifted over time is always an interesting experience. Dynamics change, tensions arise and things get awkward. When you take that scenario into a confined space like an RV, and on a journey through parts unknown on the way to a music festival, it's not surprising that things take a turn for the worst, which is exactly the scenario that Don't Turn Out the Lights presents.

Don't Turn Out the Lights follows Carrie, Amber, Chris and Sarah who meet to celebrate their friend Olivia's birthday. Only it turns out to be an even more elaborate party than planned as Olivia's boyfriend arrives with an RV “borrowed” from his uncle, as well as his college roommate, former Marine, Jason. The group embark on a journey through the backwaters of an unnamed area of rural US countryside, only to encounter a group of angry, bigoted rednecks along the way, who after a confrontation give chase. That chain of events leads the group to take an alternative to their planned route, and when their rickety vehicle breaks down, things get downright spooky.

Rather than having a bunch of naïve high school kids, Don't Turn Out the Lights chooses to frame the action around a group of college kids which elevates things significantly. The decision means the relationships feel slightly more nuanced, and the in-built backstory creates a sense of relatable stress that bubbles under before things escalate with external forces compounding that atmosphere. Also, the infusion of horror elements that creep into proceedings recall the tone of a Scream, or similar with more depth and dimensions to the ensemble. The characters and relationships all feel very authentic and the interpersonal entanglements, as well as the introduction of an outsider in the form of Jason weaves a web of melodrama really well. The acting performances are all at least serviceable and no-one feels like they are being carried, which is a major positive that helps keep the audience engaged throughout.

Don't Turn Out the Lights is a film that shows a tremendous amount of ambition. While the plot doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, there are definitely elements that feel fresh and there is certainly an attempt to make this a unique proposition. Don't Turn Out the Lights clearly isn't working with an enormous budget, but in a sense that works to the film's advantage as it allows for a creepy, “smoke and mirrors”-type effect that maximizes a fear of the unknown. Unfortunately, in doing so Don't Turn Out the Lights loses its way somewhat. The story is muddled and there appears to be a variety of threads that are pulled that are never fully resolved, something that feels especially egregious in the final act with the film's conclusion falling a little short of the promise of the premise. 

Don't Turn Out the Lights is a mixed bag of a film. There are some very solid visual concepts implemented, some good character work and an intriguing idea all in there. However, there are some logic gaps and too many plot holes which let the film down. Unfortunately, the stripped down aesthetic illuminates those flaws a little too brightly, especially at the climax of proceedings. 

Don't Turn Out the Lights is released on digital platforms on March 17th 2025 

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