Mini-Review: Gardens of the Night

Gardens of the Night
Directed by Damian Harris
Released November 21, 2008

You probably haven’t heard of this movie, and you’re not alone. It’s a tiny independent film with pretty much nothing going for it. It’s a harrowing story of two young children abducted by a man who manipulates them into believing he cares about them. The only buzz-worthy thing about the movie is the casting of Tom Arnold as the pedophile, and it’s a decent enough performance but, like the film, not really worth mentioning. John Malkovich also makes a brief appearance and demonstrates in only minutes that he’s way better than this movie. The main problem is that it’s depressing and tragic without presenting anything compelling or inventive. There’s no light or hope at the end of the tunnel. Lead actress Gillian Jacobs shows some talent, but the role can’t really showcase whatever abilities she might have. It’s unlikely you’d be planning to see this movie, but just in case, don’t go out of your way to see it.

C-