There's something inherently unsettling about childhood games turned sinister. From “Bloody Mary” to Ouija boards, we've long been fascinated by the thin line between innocent play and supernatural terror. Dark Sky Films' latest offering, “Are You There?” takes this premise and transforms the classic game of 20 Questions into a demonic countdown where wrong answers cost more than just points – they cost lives.
Director Kim Noonan, known for the psychological thriller “Nyctophobia,” returns to explore the darkness that lurks in seemingly harmless traditions. The film centers on Rosa Gonzalez (Laura Sollet), a paranormal psychology student whose academic curiosity leads her down a terrifying path. When she lights a ritual candle and utters those three fateful words – “Are you there?” – she unknowingly initiates a supernatural interrogation where each question brings her closer to either revelation or doom.
The premise is deceptively simple, yet it taps into our primal fears about the unknown and the consequences of seeking forbidden knowledge. Noonan demonstrates a keen understanding of how to build tension through minimalism. As the candle burns down, marking time like a demonic hourglass, we're reminded that some questions are better left unasked.
What sets “Are You There?” apart from typical direct-to-VOD horror fare is its psychological complexity. The script, penned by Brian S. Tedeschi and Vicki Vass, doesn't just rely on jump scares and supernatural threats. Instead, it explores the human tendency to push boundaries in the pursuit of understanding, even when those boundaries exist for our protection. Rosa's academic background in paranormal psychology adds a layer of credibility to her choices, even as we watch her venture deeper into danger.
The film's visual approach deserves special mention. The lighting design, particularly in scenes where the ritual candle casts its increasingly diminishing glow, creates an atmosphere of creeping dread. Each shadow becomes a potential threat, each flicker of light a moment of hope or despair. The decision to limit the characters' light sources – be it the ritual candle or cell phone screens – forces both the characters and audience to confront their fear of darkness, both literal and metaphorical.
While “Are You There?” occasionally falls into familiar genre tropes, it manages to breathe fresh life into the supernatural horror subgenre through its unique premise and thoughtful execution. The film demonstrates that sometimes the most terrifying questions aren't the ones we ask the spirits, but the ones we must ask ourselves about our own hubris in attempting to bridge the gap between the world of the living and whatever lies beyond.
The film opens in select theaters and becomes available on VOD starting February 7th, 2025. For horror enthusiasts and those fascinated by the intersection of academic curiosity and supernatural danger, “Are You There?” offers a thought-provoking addition to the genre that lingers in the mind long after the final credits roll.
