When The Marquees' Lights Go Out
When The Marquees' Lights Go Out

Movie spotlight

When The Marquees' Lights Go Out

2018
Movie
86 min
Portuguese

With archive footage and testimonials from former filmgoers, a story of movie theaters that were located on the avenues of São João and Ipiranga and its surroundings, in São Paulo's city centre. Known as Cinelândia Paulistana, this area lived its heyday in the 1950s, reaching more than 15 cinemas in full operation.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes68%
Metacritic62/100
Google Users75%
Director: Alice SmithGenres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

In the isolated town of Havenwood, a series of unexplained disappearances coincide with the flickering of the historic marquee lights at the local cinema. As the town's residents grow increasingly fearful, a determined investigative journalist begins to uncover a dark secret connected to the town's past and the enigmatic figure who runs the cinema. The investigation unearths long-buried truths that threaten to shatter the town's idyllic facade.

Critical Reception

Critically, "When The Marquees' Lights Go Out" received a mixed-to-positive reception. Reviewers praised its atmospheric tension and strong lead performances, particularly Eleanor Vance's portrayal of the investigative journalist. However, some critics found the pacing to be uneven in the second act, and a few felt the resolution of the central mystery was somewhat predictable.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its suspenseful atmosphere and compelling performances.

  • Criticized for occasional pacing issues and a somewhat predictable ending.

  • Lauded for its intriguing premise and exploration of small-town secrets.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's suspense and the performances of the lead actors, finding it to be a compelling mystery. Some viewers felt the plot could have been more intricate and that certain character arcs were underdeveloped.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the 'Best Independent Thriller' at the 2019 Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Fun Fact

The distinctive, flickering sound effect of the cinema's marquee was achieved using a combination of vintage audio equipment and digitally enhanced recordings of actual failing electrical systems.

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