Someone should have kept the “Lights Out” on this film.

James Wan owns the Horror genre right now and deservingly so, However with so many successful and truly terrifying films under his belt, this one will be regrettable.

“Lights Out” is a based on a short film with a runtime just shy of 3 minutes. In 162 seconds the original had more of a lasting impact then its 81 minute feature film companion. Whether you go see this film or not, I do recommend watching the inspiration.

The feature film version follows a torn family, we find out early and often the theme of the film is family abandonment. It’s a serious issue that most families face today but the characters (and the actors portraying them)are so dull , you feel like abandoning them yourself.

The thing common with James Wan’s films is atmospheric terror, looking for a shadow in the background or a creepy tone to keep you on edge. “Lights Out” uses the same scare over and over again ultimately making it redundant and predictable.

Marketing for “Lights Out” though has been top notch but it took away from the experience as the audience has already seen the major scares due to the bombardment of advertising.

If you aren’t great with jump scares and horror films in general, this film would be a good for training. It’s sure to terrify audiences that rarely watch scary movies but for horror vets “Lights Out” will be forgettable.

James Wan has produced and directed many hits in the horror genre and is redefining fear, so we are happy to give him a mulligan on this rushed film with little substance.

ROASTED RIPPER SCORE = D+ (4.5/10 Light Switches)