This is a film that sucks you into the world it created without ever wasting a moment. Set in the Old Stone Age, we come upon a group of disheveled early humans on the hunt for a new home.

Led by young Adem, they’re on the precipice of settling in for newfound prosperity or falling victim to his hubris and over-active ambition. Dissent begins to strike within the group, and they must find a way to survive in the wilderness together.

If they don’t tear each other apart, a creature lurks in the shadow of dark, ready to strike at any moment. The mystical being has them in a stranglehold as they inch toward a new life. The catch is they’l need to make it alive.

A heady indie film with a fiery soul and grand ambition, it succeeds because of its ensemble, led by Chuku Modu. Other performances from Kit Young, Safia Oakley-Green, Iola Evans and a fantastic Arno Luning are equally as enthralling.

Though this story has been told before, rarely does it look this undeniably beautiful. The cinematography and set-pieces are gorgeous. Director Andrew Cumming’s grasp of light to create the mood and intrigue are bar-none.

It’s a well-worn tale, but this movie is so skillfully done that it demands to be seen on a huge screen. Brave and intensely beautiful, Out Of Darkness is a formidable effort from a debut feature film director.

4/5 Stars