''Dark Dungeons'' is a 2014 American

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

that was directed by L. Gabriel Gonda, written by JR Ralls, and based on the

Chick tract Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts, originally created by American publisher and religious cartoonist Jack Chick in the 1960s. His company Chick Publications has continued to print these tracts, in addition to those by new writer ...

of the same name. The film had its world premiere at

GenCon Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live action role-playing ...

on August 14, 2014 and was also released on VOD through the film's official website.

Synopsis

The film opens with a group of sinister robed figures discussing how they are encouraging darkness to overtake the world through such factors as

tarot cards The tarot (, first known as '' trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots ...

homosexuality Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to pe ...

, and

role-playing games A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal ac ...

. One member states that all they need are a few more people to be converted in order for an entity known as the Dark One to take over the world. The film then cuts to Debbie and her childhood friend Marcie, who are discussing all of the fun they will have at their new school. They attend a freshman orientation class where they meet Mike, who encourages them to join an organization. On their way out they come across the RPG (role-playing game) club. Mike warns them against joining the group, as he sees them and RPGs in general as addictive and dangerous. The college has been trying to kick them off campus, but cannot due to their popularity. The two girls decide to attend a wild party and

proselytize Proselytism () is the policy of attempting to convert people's religious or political beliefs. Proselytism is illegal in some countries. Some draw distinctions between ''evangelism'' or '' Da‘wah'' and proselytism regarding proselytism as invol ...

, but are quickly overwhelmed and urged to drink and party. Halfway through their party, the music is cut off and the party's leader announces that the group will now take part in a RPG. They are dared to take part in the games by Mistress Frost. Debbie is reluctant to take part in the RPG at first, but Marcie takes part eagerly. During the game, Marcie assumes the identity of Black Leaf, a thief, while Debbie plays as Elfstar, a cleric. During gameplay, the two are forced to kill a game character that begs for their life, which disturbs Debbie, but only momentarily as they are too exhilarated by the game to think twice. Afterwards, Debbie comments that she felt real magic while casting spells in the game, which she liked. As the term progresses both girls end up sacrificing school for the RPG group and before long Debbie begins failing her classes. She is told that she must pass one of her next tests or she'll flunk the class, which would force her to move home. At the next gathering, Debbie reaches level eight and is approached by Mistress Frost, who inducts her into the art of

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have ...

. With her new powers, she easily passes her classes by controlling her professor's mind. Eager to reach level eight herself, Marcie asks for a more extreme game in order to level up faster. Mistress Frost eagerly introduces them to LARPing, but warns them that if they break character they will be forever banished from the RPG group. Before the game gets truly started, Mistress Frost is contacted by the robed figures, who tell her that one of the two girls must commit suicide in order to help the Dark One rise. During the game, Marcie's character ends up dying after she gets shot by a poison dart. This devastates Marcie, but Debbie is unable to offer any support without breaking character. As a result, Marcie returns to their dorm room alone, where she commits suicide. When Debbie informs Mistress Frost of Marcie's death, the woman is dismissive. This shocks Debbie, especially after she learns that Marcie was only used in order to summon

Cthulhu Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by writer H. P. Lovecraft. It was first introduced in his short story " The Call of Cthulhu", published by the American pulp magazine ''Weird Tales'' in 1928. Considered a Great Old One within the p ...

via the ''

Necronomicon The ', also referred to as the ''Book of the Dead'', or under a purported original Arabic title of ', is a fictional grimoire (textbook of magic) appearing in stories by the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft and his followers. It was first men ...

'' during the LARP game – and that she herself was instrumental in summoning the deity. Debbie initially tries to venture into the college's steam tunnels to defeat him, only to find that this makes the entities stronger. Just as she is about to be trapped by the demons, she asks God to help her, which enables her to escape. Back in her dorm she's approached by Mike, who invites her to come to a religious meeting as only Jesus can fight evil. At the meeting she repents and takes part in the destruction of RPG and occult materials (which includes books by

C. S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University (Magdalen College, 1925–1954) and Cambridge Univers ...

and

J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlins ...

), which foils the robed figures' plans to raise Cthulhu.

Cast

*Alyssa Kay as Debbie *Anastasia Higham as Marcie *Tracy Hyland as Mistress Frost *Trevor Cushman as Mike *Jonathan Crimeni as Nitro *Kaleb Hagen-Kerr as Preacher *David Anthony Lewis as Professor

Production

Writer J. R. Ralls came up with the idea of filming an adaptation of ''Dark Dungeons'' while in college, but plans never came to fruition. After winning $1,000 in a 2013 lottery Ralls once again considered making the film and contacted

Jack Chick Jack Thomas Chick (April 13, 1924 – October 23, 2016) was an American cartoonist and publisher, best known for his fundamentalist Christian "Chick tracts". He expressed his perspective on a variety of issues through sequential-art morali ...

for permission to create an adaptation, which was granted. Additional funding for the film was raised through a successful Kickstarter campaign, which also managed to bring the proposed film to the attention of the production company Zombie Orpheus Entertainment.

Reception

Critical reception for ''Dark Dungeons'' has been positive, with most critics interpreting the film as a

satire Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming ...

of its source material. ''

Wired ''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San ...

'' remarked that ''Dark Dungeons'' was not filmed as an outright parody, which they felt strengthened the movie as the source material was "made by people who believe that Cthulhu is real and coming for your soul. You can't satirize something so far out of touch with reality." Comic Bastards made a similar statement in their favorable review for the film, stating that "Everyone plays it competently and straight and that's why it works so well."

References

External links

* *
Dark Dungeons comic
at Chick.com {{Chick Publications Navbox, state=expanded 2014 short films 2014 films American horror short films Films based on American comics Films about Christianity American dark fantasy films Demons in film Films about witchcraft Films about suicide Cthulhu Mythos films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films Kickstarter-funded films American satirical films Religious satire films