Indie Gems: I Used to be Darker

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Then I was light, then I got darker again.

Taryn (Deragh Campbell) is 19 and runs away from her home in Ireland to Baltimore to stay with her aunt Kim, uncle Bill, and cousin Abby. (Ned Oldman, Kim Taylor, and Hannah Gross) Only her timing is awful. Kim and Bill are separating and it's taking it's toll on teenage Abby. Plus Taryn winds up pregnant by as she puts it, "an asshole from the seashore." 

I love dysfunctional family dramas. (Netflix even made me a list of them, because it knows) I wasn't familiar with any of these actors prior to seeing this film, but I loved them all here. Especially Deragh, she shows a lot of potential.

This film is bleak and good things rarely happen to the characters, but watching them navigate this journey is endlessly fascinating. My only complaint is that Adele Exarchopolous is literally in this film for a minute. I wanted more of her. 

Grade: A

Memorable Quote: "I'm so fucked.." - Taryn (Deragh Campbell)

Comments

  1. Wendell OttleyJanuary 9, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    I remember hearing good things about it, but never got around to watching it. Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    I've never heard of this (which is why I love when you highlight films in your Indie Gems), but I'm super intrigued!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 9, 2015 at 2:36 PM

      I really hope Deragh does more things after this. She's got a lot of potential.

      Delete
  3. UnknownJanuary 9, 2015 at 12:49 PM

    I can't resist dysfunctional family dramas either -- this one sounds good!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Candice FrederickJanuary 10, 2015 at 1:08 AM

    hmmm i should really look this up. sounds like my cup of tea. Netflix hasn't come up with a similar list for me yet! But have you seen August Osage County?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 10, 2015 at 10:59 AM

      This is on Netflix Instant. I haven't seen that film yet, but I have it in my DVD queue.

      Delete
  5. JoshJanuary 11, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    Not sure what to make of this, but it sounds intriguing. Adding it to my Netflix queue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 11, 2015 at 10:47 PM

      I loved it. Give me a movie about a fucked up family any day. lol

      Delete

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