Joe Sherlock’s A Knife in the Dark aims to be a classy gothic murder mystery wrapped in a low-budget slasher, but what we end up with feels more like two mismatched movies fighting for dominance. Set in a supposedly “luxurious mansion” (read: a regular suburban house), the film opens with promise — eerie lighting, a killer in a skeleton mask, and a family hiding a dark secret — before devolving into a jumble of confusing subplots and stilted performances.
A wealthy family mourns their recently deceased patriarch as a mysterious killer picks them off one by one. The setup hints at an old-school giallo vibe, complete with moody lighting and synthy score work. For a moment, you might even think Sherlock has crafted something ambitious. But then the dialogue starts, and it becomes clear this isn’t Suspiria — it’s more like a community-theater take on Clue meets Dark Shadows.
The biggest shock here isn’t the identity of the killer, but the fact that Sherlock — known for his microbudget sleaze and tongue-in-cheek horror — shows real restraint. There’s only one extended shower scene and zero nudity, which for him is practically avant-garde. Unfortunately, that newfound discipline doesn’t translate into stronger writing or pacing. The film drags despite its brisk 77-minute runtime, and the much-teased family “secret” lands with an unintentional laugh when the movie veers into full-blown vampire territory.
That said, A Knife in the Dark isn’t without its charms. Newcomer Kate Schmidt delivers the film’s only genuinely good performance, anchoring a cast that otherwise seems to be having fun playing murder-mystery dress-up. Some of the camerawork and lighting surprisingly pop for such a low-budget affair, and the skeleton mask killer, while goofy, provides a few moments of nostalgic slasher fun.
But by the end, the plot collapses under its own absurdity — the twist is both obvious and confusing, the killer reveal meaningless, and the story’s central mystery fumbled into oblivion. Still, there’s an odd sincerity in Sherlock’s effort. Even when the acting, writing, and audio all fail him, his love for DIY horror filmmaking bleeds through.
Verdict: A Knife in the Dark is a baffling, mildly entertaining mess. It’s too slow and sloppy to recommend, but too oddly sincere to completely dismiss. For die-hard Joe Sherlock fans, it’s another weird entry worth a curious glance — for everyone else, this knife might be better left in its sheath.
Jessie Hobson