Alone in the Dark (2005) is another special effects laden film based on a video game, helmed by Uwe Boll (regarded by many as one of the world's worst directors). The film is based on the video game Alone in the Dark series of videogames started in 1992. One interesting note is that the film is supposed to mirror the storyline of Alone in the Dark 5 aka Alone in the Dark: Near Death Investigation but Eden games decided at the last minute to completely rework the game, including the plot, which makes the film version appear to deviate completely from the storylines of the games. However it was the game developer who changed the story at the last minute, not the filmmakers.
The Story deals with a freelance hunter of historical relics, Edward Carnby (Christian Slater), who is specifically looking for artifacts from Abkani, an ancient civilization who mysteriously disappeared when they discovered a gateway to another dimension, and sought to close it. Carnby is also a former member of a paramilitary organization called Bureau 713, whose mission is to hunt down and fight paranormal threats to humanity. Carnby's ex-girlfriend is Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid), an assistant curator at a museum where many Abkani relics are stored. Carnby lost his memory when he was ten and in an orphanage, so he is unaware of his role in the conspiracy to take over the planet by the creatures from the 'void'. Carnby also has a mysterious psychic link to the Abkani and the dark forces being marshaled by his nemesis, Professor Lionel Hudgens (Matthew Walker).
The primary weapon of the Bureau 713's commandos is the M4 Carbine, outfitted with RIS rails, a flashlight and laser, usually fitted with an Elcan sight on the receiver's flat top and a "Zeno" tracker on the foreward grip top rail. This Blinking LED "Zeno Tracker" is actually a Zircon Stud Finder!
The "High Tech Futuristic Zeno Tracking Device" is in reality ... a Zircon Stud Finder, available at any Hardware storeError creating thumbnail: File missingColt M4A1 Carbine with M68 Aimpoint reflex optic and Knight's Armament RAS railed handguard and vertical forward grip - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingA good side shot of the M4's configuration in the movie, including the black "High tech" stud finder mounted above the barrel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAgent Cheung (Françoise Yip) carries her M4 which she switches back and forth with a Calico M951A rifle in the film. This shows the unusual short flash hider used on these guns which make the super hot star burst flash that angles outward in a full circle rather than a forward star burst.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn example of the super hot full star burst flash from the short flash hiders on these M4 carbines.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother example of the amazing flash pattern from the M4s in the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA good side shot of the M4's configuration during the battle.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother shot of the fireballs from the flash hiders.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA closeup of the lower receiver on one of the M4s. This one clearly has a "Stowaway" pistol grip, which means that the lower receiver was probably manufactured by Olympic Arms.
M16 / AR-15 SP1
Mixed in with the M4 carbines, are M16 / AR-15 SP1 rifles with A2 handguards.
Set up like 'smart guns' from films like Aliens and Congo the miniguns are set to fire at anything moving within 50 feet (since past 50 feet are another barrier and past that are the trip wire mines). Unfortunately, the Zeno creatures phase in and out of our dimension so they're hard to hit.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSeen in a closeup during the museum battle, this is a 2nd unit shot of a hand firing a Beretta Inox. Unfortunately it is intercut with a sequence of Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid) firing her Glock, so it is a continuity break.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCmdr. Richard Burke (Stephen Dorff) uses the Stainless Steel Beretta Inox as his primary sidearm.
Calico M-951A Automatic Rifle
Mixed in with the M4 Carbines of the Bureau 713 commandos are a number of Calico M-951A Full auto rifles (not the 955A since these rifles have full length barrels). These 951A rifles are outfitted with M900S Full buttstocks (an easy swap out). They have Calico style scope mounts and short optical scopes as well as Flashlights, foregrips and the same custom IR designator as seen on the M4 Carbines.
Agent Cheung's weapon switches from a Calico M-951A to an M4 Rifle
Error creating thumbnail: File missingNow she carries an M4, the gun was previously a Calico M-951AError creating thumbnail: File missingAn example of the previously mentioned swapping of rifles. Agent Cheung (Françoise Yip) changes between an M4 Carbine and a Calico M-951 throughout the final half of the film, though in the timeline of the story, she 'could' have swapped them out herself since she uses the same rifle for major blocks of time.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA closeup of the full stock of the Calico Rifle, indicating that it has the 900S stock.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCmdr. Richard Burke (Stephen Dorff) uses a Calico M-951A while he searches the abandoned medical facility - 9mm
For a bad Owe Boll film, the battle between Bureau 713 commandos and the Zenos is pretty good. The Special effects are nice, though the editing is schizophrenic. Too much speed metal rock music and 'shaky cam' editing, but there are good gore effects and the Zeno monsters are an example of good CGI (in comparison to the cheap CGI seen so often on movies 'made for the Sci Fi Channel').
Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Reptilian "Zeno Warrior" attacks the perimeter and shrugs off tons of automatic weapons fire from Bureau 713 commandos.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Reptilian "Zeno Warrior" takes a bite out of a hapless 713 Commando. The CGI effects were quite good and high end, despite weak points in the plot, the script, the direction, the editing, ......Error creating thumbnail: File missingA good effects shot of an M4 firing at a Zeno Monster.
