The Darkest Hour is an action and science fiction film directed by Chris Gorak, written by Jon Spaihts, and released in French theaters on January 11, 2012. Led by Emile Hirsch, Rachael Taylor, and Olivia Thirlby, this American movie blends themes of alien invasion and urban survival. It will be available on Prime Video starting February 6, 2026.
Sean and Ben are in Moscow working on a tech project when they meet Natalie and Anne, two travelers passing through. Their encounter at a nightclub takes a sudden turn when a mysterious light phenomenon strikes the city. An instantaneous extraterrestrial attack wipes out most of the population in just seconds, plunging the city into chaos.
After days hiding in the underground tunnels, the survivors emerge to find a deserted metropolis. The creatures, invisible to the naked eye, appear to sense electrical energy and hunt any signs of human life. , the group must unravel the nature of these entities and their motives if they hope to survive in a city turned hostile.
Former art director on Fight Club, Minority Report, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Chris Gorak makes his second feature film with Maximum Impact. The entire shooting took place in Moscow, making it one of the first Hollywood blockbusters to film on location in the Russian capital and in 3D. The production faced significant logistical challenges and was briefly interrupted due to the extraordinary air pollution levels during the summer of 2010.
Produced notably by Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted), the film is part of the early 2010s surge of alien invasion movies, alongside titles like Skyline and World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles. The screenplay marks one of the first works by Jon Spaihts, who would later write the script for Prometheus. Choosing enemies that are visible only through distortions of light emphasizes suspense and the unseen, placing the story within a tradition of tense, unsettling science fiction.
The Darkest Hour
Film | 2012
Released in cinemas: January 11, 2012
Available on Prime Video from February 6, 2026
Action, Horror, Science Fiction | Duration: 1h29
Directed by Chris Gorak | Starring Emile Hirsch, Rachael Taylor, Olivia Thirlby
Original title: The Darkest Hour
Country: United States
Set in a city rarely featured in American disaster films, The Darkest Hour offers a fresh urban twist on the invasion genre. Blending themes of collective survival with the exploration of a frozen metropolis, the movie creates a tense atmosphere rooted in human vulnerability in the face of an unseen threat.
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