As a long-time cinema enthusiast with decades of movie-watching under my belt, I can wholeheartedly relate to Stephen King‘s recent lament about the visual darkness that plagues modern productions. From HBO’s House of the Dragon to Amazon’s Cross, it seems like every other show is shrouded in such darkness that I half expect a bat signal or a cat to wander into frame.
It’s undeniable that renowned horror writer Stephen King frequently watches TV shows and movies. Prior to joining Threads, he often expressed his thoughts on both mainstream blockbusters and lesser-known treasures on Elon Musk’s X platform. Although the platform has changed, King continues to be the same as always, most recently pointing out a significant issue that many of us have with numerous current productions.
On his Twitter account, King expressed his concern, “‘Do many streaming shows seem overly dark, or am I just seeing things?’” This question sparked diverse reactions as people initially misunderstood if ‘dark’ referred to the content or the lack of light. After clarifying that he meant ‘visually dark’, and emphasizing, “even the comedies”, it became apparent that King shares our common struggle with shows like HBO’s House of the Dragon, where the darkness and candlelight make it difficult to discern what is happening on screen.
It appears that Mr. King isn’t alone in his complaints about the quality of the new Amazon show “Cross,” as demonstrated by the diverse responses, such as Rick Urban’s humorous comment, “‘Yeah, the new Amazon show, Cross…did they forget to pay the light bill?’” Prior to King’s question, Ellis Newport had thought it was their TV that was malfunctioning. Many other users have voiced similar issues, including unbalanced sound, particularly from Hulu, and having to watch with subtitles due to the low volume.
So, What’s the Real Reason Movies and TV Shows Are So Dark?
The primary cause for the excessive darkness found in many current entertainment productions, making it hard to see without adjusting your TV brightness or straining your eyes, can be traced back to the filmmakers. In an interview with Variety in 2022, digital imaging technician Nicholas Kay explained that cinematographers often aim for this dark look to create a sense of realism.
While maintaining accuracy is commendable, it’s also entertainment, and let’s face it, the 1989 Batman movie had its share of creative liberties, especially considering the contrast with Matt Reeves’ 2022 version. In essence, the two are as different as day and night. Granted, directors today may be intentionally shrouding things in mystery, but they should also understand that while they focus on portraying the truth, we viewers are left guessing if what we see is Batman’s cowl or a stray cat’s ears appearing on screen.
Dear Filmmakers, I humbly request you to please add a touch more lightness to your creations. It’s a minor adjustment that could win you a great deal of goodwill, perhaps even boost ticket sales. At least, it will keep the persistent Mr. King at bay, and trust me, that’s already half the challenge conquered!
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2024-12-03 23:02