The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007)

Director:

David L. Cunningham

Writers (WGA):

John Hodge (screenplay)
Susan Cooper (novel)

Release Date:

5 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

Even the smallest of light... shines in the darkness

Plot:

A boy's life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the dark.

Plot Keywords:

Warrior | Power | Dog | Cat | Time Travel

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Dec. 2	4:45 PM	HBO
Mon. Dec. 7	12:15 PM	HBO

Cast

Alexander Ludwig	...	Will Stanton
Christopher Eccleston	...	The Rider
Ian McShane	...	Merriman Lyon
Frances Conroy	...	Miss Greythorne
James Cosmo	...	Dawson
Jim Piddock	...	Old George
Amelia Warner	...	Maggie Barnes
John Benjamin Hickey	...	John Stanton
Wendy Crewson	...	Mary Stanton
Emma Lockhart	...	Gwen Stanton
Drew Tyler Bell	...	James Stanton
Edmund Entin	...	Robin Stanton
Gary Entin	...	Paul Stanton
Gregory Smith	...	Max Stanton
Jordan J. Dale	...	Stephen Stanton

Also Known As:

The Dark Is Rising (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for fantasy action and some scary images.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #43658) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Taiwan:PG-12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:PT | Finland:K-11 | Brazil:Livre | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U

Filming Locations:

MediaPro Studios, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Alexander Ludwig also plays the role of twin brother Tom, but isn't credited for this role.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where the snow comes through his window in his room in the attic, the crow's feather is clearly covered quite a bit with snow in the close-up shot. But when he picks it up, there is no snow around.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Paul Stanton: Hey man, let's get out of here.
Robin Stanton: School is out.
James Stanton: What's up, little brother? I gotta catch up with the twins.
Gwen Stanton: Hi Will.
Will Stanton: Come on, Gwen. Let's go.

Movie Connections:

Features Tony Hawk's Project 8 (2006) (VG)

Soundtrack:

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Appalling

That should just about sum it up, but I'll continue. There were about 3 things about Susan Cooper's magnificent book that were preserved in this movie: a couple of names (but certainly not all of them--where was the difficulty in letting his father be named "Roger" rather than changing it to "John"??), a rook feather in the snow, and... that's about it. Sorry, couldn't think of a third. From the color of the Rider's horse to the number (AND AGE) of Will's siblings, from the abilities of the Old Ones (Swords and crossbows? Really?) to the utter importance of the Walker (I wanted to scream)... nothing nothing nothing was safe from being altered, disregarded, obliterated, and out-and-out ignored. I wasted $7.50, but had to be sure that it was as awful as I feared. It was worse. The last time a superb book-turned-rubbish-movie angered me this much was when I was forced to see Jim Carrey prance around as Count Olaf, who should've been one of the greatest villains to scare the wits out of little kids everywhere.

I'd like to say I'm done with adaptations, but The Golden Compass is coming out, and that one looks like more than the gaffer actually read the bloody book.