Darkness Falls (2003 film)

Darkness Falls
Theatrical Release poster
Directed by	Jonathan Liebesman
Produced by	John Fasano John Hegeman William Sherak Jason Shuman
Screenplay by	Joe Harris James Vanderbilt John Fasano
Story by	Joe Harris
Starring	Chaney Kley Emma Caulfield
Music by	Paul Andrews Brian Tyler
Cinematography	Dan Laustsen
Edited by	Timothy Alverson Steve Mirkovich
Production company	Revolution Studios Distant Corners
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	January 24, 2003 (2003-01-24)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United States Australia
Language	English
Budget	$11 million
Box office	$47.5 million

Darkness Falls is a 2003 American-Australian supernatural horror film; it was written by Joe Harris and John Fasano, and directed by Jonathan Liebesman. The film stars Chaney Kley and Emma Caulfield. The film's narrative follows Kyle Walsh (Kley), who witnesses his mother’s murder. Twelve years later, he returns to his childhood home because Michael Greene (Lee Cormie), the young brother of his romantic interest Caitlin (Caulfield), is being stalked by Kyle's mother’s supernatural killer. Kyle must protect them from this powerful enemy and put an end to its killing spree.

In the town of Darkness Falls, widow Matilda Dixon was adored by the town's children. She gave them gifts and gold coins when they lost teeth, earning her the nickname Tooth Fairy. A fire in her home left her face disfigured and sensitive to light; she wore a white porcelain mask and only left her house at night. The town's adults were suspicious of Matilda; they blamed her when two children went missing. They hanged her and exposed her face to light. Dying, Matilda swore vengeance. When the two missing children returned home unharmed, the townsfolk realized their mistake and quickly buried Matilda's body. The story of Matilda, the Tooth Fairy, became a legend; her dark spirit visits children on the night they lose their last baby tooth. If anyone sees her when she visits, they are marked for her vengeance.

Kyle Walsh, an antisocial teenager befriended by Caitlin Greene (Emily Browning), loses his last baby tooth. That night he sees Matilda and realizes the story is true. Knowing light is her weakness, he shines a flashlight into her face and hides in the brightly-lit bathroom. His mother is killed after seeing Matilda. The next morning, police arrive and Kyle is taken to a mental hospital after mistaken speculations that he killed his mother.

Twelve years later, Caitlin (Emma Caulfield) telephones Kyle (Chaney Kley) to ask for his help with her younger brother Michael (Lee Cormie), who refuses to sleep in the dark. Kyle still suffers fear and paranoia from his encounter with Matilda; he has dozens of flashlights and medications for anxiety and depression. Kyle visits Michael at the hospital but denies any relation to his condition and walks away from Caitlin, who believes his story.