User Reviews

This movie is meant to entertain. However, it is not your typical Hollywood movie filled with commercial advertisements, a spoon-fed superficial story, and eye-candy. In fact, it is quite the opposite: a dreamy, voyeuristic, intellectual experience that requires audiences to pay attention and encourages them to reflect and discuss afterward. Every shot, every moment, every piece of dialog has relevance to the story. The movie often requires multiple viewings to fully grasp.

I will attempt to assuage "nichole-no-likey's" misunderstanding by providing detailed answers to her questions. I prefer to let the answers speak for themselves: (Caution, SPOILERS BELOW, be forewarned!)

>it has no plot, no direction, and no hope...

We all know American audiences don't want to think. One example of hundreds: a cartoon is competing with The DaVinci Code right now in the theaters. If anything, this movie has too much plot. Ray of Darkness was distilled down from nearly 400 pages of story, which many suggested be turned into a novel, into a 2.5hr movie. It was then streamlined further, down to 93 minutes. The relentless direction: Drew is on a quest to find her friend, as setup less than 5 minutes in and carried throughout the rest of the movie.

>What happened to the logger?

Funny, 'logger' was an inside term used only by the cast/crew. Makes me wonder who wrote the comment. Anyway, taking the benefit of the doubt, here's your answer: He died because the woman killed him, as evidenced by 1) Her becoming the 'new' host, and 2) Drew's many flashbacks of the actual logger himself. You need to pay attention to the movie.

>What is the cowboy for?

His presence proves that a sane person can, in fact, survive inside the Inland Empire, as he has done. He is actually a saint (yes, the irony, a saint dressed as an ominous cowboy) and offers Drew salvation if she will leave with him. It's his only dialog in the movie. However, Drew has already killed. She is already possessed. She kills him and comes to realize that SHE has become the next host.

>What's the deal with the baby?

It was killed, as with all the other babies. The logger didn't want daughters. We heard it on screen, saw it on Dawn's face, heard it in Drew's narration, and saw it in flashback. You need to pay attention to the movie.

>Who the heck is X?

The mastermind in charge of 'criminal investigations', turning the internet and Inland Empire into tools to do his bidding. Says that right on the screen and, of course, X spells it out later. You need to pay attention to the movie.

>Why did they share the lollipop?

It a laced lollipop, shared in the same way everyone shares a joint or bong. It can't get more obvious. Regarding this scene, the Cult encapsulates and reflects our behaviors toward the unknown, in this case: a creepy place that's killing people. I could write pages about this.

>How does the cabin have phone service if it is in the vortex?

This is a great question. This is how the Inland Empire 'reached' out into the real world to pull in its victims, while searching for a new host. Thus, all the countless references to phone lines, telecommunications, satellites, static interferences, and signal transmissions throughout the entire movie. Through a phone line, the Inland Empire has reached into our world.

>Is Sharky gay?

This is clearly an absurd, rhetorical question. He's in love with Claire. 1) First, they discuss his past affair with Claire in the car. 2) He carries around a photo of Claire because he cares that much about her rescue. 3) He nearly commits suicide when faced with the thought of her being dead. 4) He reacts against X, on Claire's behalf. 5) And, finally, he abandons his real mission in order to save Claire once and for all, enlisting the help of Drew.

>Wait a minute, what vortex?

The land beyond the gate. The Inland Empire is the biggest deal in the movie literally from frame 1 to the last few seconds. Do you think a vortex is only some spinning thing in some Superman cartoon? Here are many other places in the world similar to the Inland Empire Vortex near Hellis, Washington: The Oregon Vortex, Gold Hill, Oregon, USA 165ft diameter | The Santa Cruz Vortex, Santa Cruz, California 150ft diameter | Rose Point, Sedona, Arizona, USA | Confusion Hill, Piercy, California USA | Magnetic Hill, Petaluma, California USA 300ft diameter | Maltby Cemetery, Maltby, Washington USA | Spook Hill, Lake Wales, Florida 200ft diameter | Mystery Hill, Irish Hill, Michigan USA | The Inland Empire, Hellis, Washington, USA undisclosed for safety reasons Over 20 mile diameter | Cosmos of the Black Hills, South Dakota USA | Wonder Spot, Delton, Wisconsin 55ft diameter | Bermuda Triangle/Devil's Sea, Miami, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico | Tunguska, Siberia | Pyramid of Giza, Egypt | Stonehenge, England | Easter Island, South Pacific | Nazca Lines, Peru

>And finally, why am I still watching this?

Obviously you didn't. You need to pay attention to this movie, that's the kind of movie it is.

>sucked up 94 minutes of my life that I will never get back.

Sorry for this. However, it literally sucked up 7 years of my life and took my entire life's savings to make. You watched an unfinished screener for barely an hour and a half, for free.

Note to future viewers: I haven't even scratched the surface commentating on this story. A very comprehensive commentary explaining all facets of the movie is available to you free of charge if you contact me (check the website). I want to support you and thank you for reading and watching this movie.