Dark Was the Night (2014)

Kevin Durand plays a sheriff in a sleepy rural town, tormented by mistakes made in the past. When an unknown creature begins picking off the local animal life, he has to keep the town's trust by subduing the threat. I've seen this song and dance before, but that doesn't mean it's a poor film. Sure it's derivative, but the characters are complex enough and the acting is above-average for the genre. Durand, who mumbles many of his lines, naturally gives off an air of mystery, but the character's background is what really draws your attention. The film does take itself too seriously; to the point of being bleak. The monster hunt is a slow one as you only catch glimpses of it at first. The plan for the creature to go full-monty in all its less than flattering CG glory was a poor choice in the end. Everything up to that point equaled a solid film. 

2½ peckers out of 5