Could James Wan’s latest production be the next great horror franchise?
David F. Sandberg’s Lights Out has been making waves in the horror community ever since the original short film was unleashed on the Interwebs back in 2013. After making the rounds on the film festival circuit and winning a handful of awards, the short was picked up by James Wan and the production studio Atomic Monster and began shooting back in July, with Sanberg attached as the director.
With the film’s early screenings apparently testing through the roof, Warner Bros. and New Line quickly bumped Lights Out up to a massive summer release, calling it “the next big thing in horror” and a surefire future franchise. Last night, the first trailer for Lights Out was released via Warner Bros. Youtube page, and from the looks of it, the early praise has been well-founded.
Appearing to be equal parts The Ring and Darkness Falls, Lights Out tells the familiar tale of a family forced to fight back when a supernatural entity from their past comes back to haunt them.
When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged.
But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.
It may not be breaking the mold in terms of story, but Lights Out certainly looks like the kind of horror film that will find an audience here in the states. Check out Sandberg’s original short film below.
Lights Out stars Triple 9‘s Teresa Palmer and hits theaters on July 22.
