Movie Review: 'Brave the Dark'

A bar of chocolate changes a life. Mr. Deen (Jared Harris) teaches English and drama at the Garden Spot Performing Arts High School in Lancaster, PA. One day, he brings a chocolate bar to his classroom and gives it to one of his students, Nate (Nicholas Hamilton). The circumstances surrounding this curious gift is the subject of this Angel Studios true-story film.

It’s late at night when three rebellious high school students, led by Nate, break into a small appliance store. They think they are unnoticed as they pile electronic parts into the trunk of Nate’s red Camaro. As they drive off, the curtains in a window across the street are closed and the person watching disappears in the shadows.

At school the next day, Nate runs his usual laps around the school track, cleans up, grabs his books and heads for his classes. He pauses momentarily at a vending machine with the hope of getting a free snack – he hasn’t eaten in three days and has no money.

His pounding on the dispenser comes to the attention of Mr. Deen as he passes on his way to class. Being the kind person he is, and suspecting Nate might be hungry, Mr. Deen slips a chocolate bar to Nate as he returns graded papers to his students. He jokes to Nate that he is the recipient of a special award – a candy bar. Hunger overtakes Nate’s curiosity at receiving the bar and he eagerly devours it.

In addition to being a kind person, Mr. Deen is also a curious one. Sensing a certain darkness in Nate, he decides to investigate. Their brief conversations about Nate – his family, home life, school interests and career possibilities – reveal very little about the teenager.

Eventually and very slowly, Nate reveals small pieces of his background to Mr. Deen. Due to a fatal automobile accident, he lost his mother when he was quite young. His father remains unknown to him – never knew the man. He’d been living in orphanages from a young age and is now comfortable in a foster home.

As Mr. Deen later discovers, these tales are all lies. One truth is revealed however, Nate likes photography. He receives a camera as a Christmas gift. The camera and enrolling in a drama class begin to move Nate’s life in a positive direction.

On another night, the red Camaro is once again seen. This time it’s nestled against tall corn stocks on the field of a remote farm. The bright interior light shows Nate huddled in the front seat amidst books and papers studying and making notes.

The next day, the weak morning light reveals Nate crawling out of the cramped back seat of his car, stretching and twisting to limber his body. At school, it’s running a few sweaty laps, a shower, the vending machine and then class.

He’s occupied taking photographs backstage during rehearsal for a upcoming play when the police arrive. They arrest Nate, handcuff and escort him from the stage. He is led through the crowded halls as his shocked classmates look on. No one is more affrighted than Mr. Deen.

Directed by Damian Harris (Credits: The Wilde Wedding, To the Moon), “Brave the Dark” runs 152 minutes and is a “should see” for a touching story of moving from darkness to light and how important help from friends can be. The adult Nate speaks to the audience just before the film credits begin.