Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Subtle but dull alien invasion movie has scares, edgy stuff.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Dark Skies
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say this movie delivers a mix of opinions, with some finding it a decent horror film with good jump scares, while others criticize it for being underwhelming or inappropriate for younger audiences due to its PG-13 rating. Many agree that the alien design is creepy and that it includes some mature themes, making it better suited for teens rather than younger children.
- creepy alien design
- jump scares
- mixed reviews
- inappropriate for kids
- mature themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In troubled times, Daniel Barrett (Josh Hamilton) can't find a job, and his wife, Lacy (Keri Russell), must keep the family afloat as a real estate saleswoman. On top of that, intruders seem to be breaking into their house, making messes and stealing photos, as well as building bizarre sculptures out of kitchen items. Soon their youngest son, Sam (Kadan Rockett), starts exhibiting strange behavior, and hundreds of birds suddenly slam into the house. And older son Jesse (Dakota Goyo) begins to find teenage life extraordinarily difficult. A visit to a mysterious specialist (J.K. Simmons) confirms that aliens -- called "the greys" -- have been visiting, and that there's not much they can do to stop a potential abduction. Or is there?
Is It Any Good?
Without the aliens, the movie might actually have made an interesting drama. Director Scott Stewart, formerly of the San Francisco special effects house The Orphanage, has previously made two great-looking but jumbled movies, Legion and Priest, both drawing on strong ideas from the past but failing to make much new out of them. He continues in that vein here, although DARK SKIES is at least subtler and more character based than expected.
With the aliens, however, it appears to draw heavily on movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Poltergeist, building a mystery and making use of silences and empty spaces in addition to small character dramas. Unfortunately, it all adds up to very little. The story is oddly pessimistic. Nothing is learned, no victory is achieved, and even the expected "twist" ending is curiously dull. It's as if the aliens have already won.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Dark Skies' violence. How much is actually shown? How much is threatened, but not shown? Which is scarier, and why? What's the difference between the simple jump-shocks and the more nightmarish imagery?
What's the relationship among the four family members like? What mistakes do they make? What do they do right?
What makes alien invasion movies so popular? How does this one compare to others you've seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 22, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : May 28, 2013
- Cast : Dakota Goyo , J.K. Simmons , Keri Russell
- Director : Scott Stewart
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Dimension
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, terror throughout, sexual material, drug content and language - all involving teens
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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