Coming Home in the Dark

Coming Home in the Dark 2021

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Plot Summary


A school teacher, Alan ‘Hoaggie’ Hoaganraad, embarks on a family road trip with his wife, Jill, and their two teenage sons, Maika and Jordan. While hiking, Maika spots two suspicious men in the distance who quickly vanish. As the family enjoys a roadside picnic, they are abruptly confronted by two dangerous drifters, Mandrake and Tubs. The criminals rob them at gunpoint, forcing them to lie on the ground. In a chilling turn of events, Mandrake overhears Maika affectionately calling Alan “Hoaggie” and retaliates by murdering both Maika and Jordan before abducting the parents as night falls. In the struggle, Mandrake breaks Alan’s arm and knocks Jill unconscious.

As they are held captive, Mandrake reveals his awareness of Alan’s past as a teacher at a group home notorious for its cycle of physical and sexual abuse. Alan pleads his innocence, claiming ignorance of any wrongdoing, but Mandrake is unconvinced, suggesting that they are headed to the boy’s home where the abuse occurred. During a stop at a gas station, Alan risks a secret plea for help to the attendant, but Mandrake sees through it and brutally kills the attendant with a fire extinguisher. Moreover, Alan cleverly sabotages the kidnappers’ vehicle by using a nail to puncture the tire while pretending to recover from his injuries.

As tension escalates, Jill attempts an escape but is quickly recaptured. Under the pressure of Mandrake’s threats, Alan is forced to confess his complicity in the abuse. He recounts a harrowing incident involving a boy who had a swastika forcibly removed from his skin, a story that deeply unsettles Jill, leading her to retreat from Alan emotionally. With her life at stake, Jill makes a daring leap into a river rather than return to her captors, leaving her fate uncertain.

Alan manages to escape briefly when they stop to fix the damaged tire, but he is soon discovered and expelled from a group of teenagers’ car at Mandrake’s command. Tragically, they fall victim to Mandrake’s bloodlust, with all but one escaping the massacre. Once recaptured, they eventually arrive at an old, desolate boarding school that seems to hold personal significance for Mandrake and Tubs.

Within the haunting confines of the school, Alan confronts his dark past, acknowledging that he not only failed the boys but harbored a belief that the tattooed boy deserved his fate. This vulnerability elicits a revelation from Mandrake, who discloses that he is not the tattooed boy. In a shocking moment of violence, Mandrake shoots Alan in the chest before Alan fights back, hitting him with a rock. Although Mandrake is injured, he still attempts to finish off Alan. Tubs, who has often been seen as a mere follower of Mandrake, appears and ends the menace by shooting Mandrake. Tubs, recognizing the depth of pain engrained in the school, leaves Alan behind, stating “I hate this place,” a sentiment mirrored in a carving on a nearby stone, suggesting the lingering trauma of their past. The film concludes with Tubs looking at the rising sun, tears in his eyes, leaving his ultimate state of mind, and the true fate of the children, shrouded in ambiguity.

Timeline


Family Road Trip Begins

Alan 'Hoaggie' Hoaganraad, a school teacher, sets off on a family road trip with his wife Jill and their two teenage sons, Maika and Jordan. They are excited and optimistic, looking forward to creating cherished memories together.

Suspicious Encounter

While hiking, Maika notices two strange men in the distance who quickly disappear from sight. This unsettling moment raises suspicions but does not immediately affect the family's plans.

Roadside Picnic Turned Nightmare

The family enjoys a peaceful roadside picnic until they are confronted by two dangerous drifters, Mandrake and Tubs. The criminals rob them at gunpoint, forcing the terrified family to lie on the ground.

Tragic Loss of Maika and Jordan

In a horrific turn of events, Mandrake overhears Maika calling Alan 'Hoaggie' and retaliates by murdering both Maika and Jordan. The family’s nightmare escalates as they realize they are now targets.

Alan and Jill Abducted

Following the shocking murders, Mandrake and Tubs abduct Alan and Jill as night falls. In the ensuing struggle, Mandrake breaks Alan’s arm and knocks Jill unconscious, showcasing the dangerous situation they are in.

Revealing the Past

As they are held captive, Mandrake reveals that he knows about Alan's troubled past at a group home associated with abuse. Alan pleads his innocence, leading to a tense confrontation about the sins of the past.

Desperate Plea for Help

During a stop at a gas station, Alan attempts to send a covert plea for help to the attendant. However, Mandrake sees through this desperate move and brutally murders the attendant, further illustrating the escalating violence.

Alan's Ingenious Sabotage

In a moment of cleverness, Alan uses a nail to puncture one of the kidnappers' tires while pretending to recover from his injuries. This act of defiance demonstrates his determination to escape despite his physical condition.

Jill's Bold Attempt to Escape

In a moment of courage, Jill makes a daring attempt to escape from their captors. Sadly, she is quickly recaptured, reinforcing the dire stakes they are facing under the control of Mandrake and Tubs.

Alan's Forced Confession

Under Mandrake's pressure, Alan is compelled to confess his alleged complicity in the abuse at the group home. He recounts a traumatic incident involving a boy with a forced tattoo, which deeply unsettles Jill and creates emotional distance between them.

Jill's Desperate Leap

With her life in jeopardy, Jill makes the bold choice to leap into a river rather than return to her captors. This decision showcases her desperate will to survive, even as it leaves her fate uncertain.

Alan's Brief Escape

At a stop to fix the damaged tire, Alan manages a brief escape and attempts to flee with a group of teenagers. Unfortunately, Mandrake discovers him, resulting in another traumatic encounter that highlights the danger surrounding them.

Arrival at the Old Boarding School

The captors finally arrive at an old, dilapidated boarding school that holds significant memories for Mandrake and Tubs. The location becomes the site of tragic confrontations, forcing Alan to confront his painful past.

Confrontation and Revelation

Within the confines of the school, Alan faces his past demons, acknowledging failures and dark truths. In a shocking twist, Mandrake reveals he is not the tattooed boy Alan once knew, intensifying the horror of the moment.

Climactic Showdown

In a chaotic struggle, Mandrake shoots Alan in the chest, but Alan fights back fiercely, hitting Mandrake with a rock. Just as Mandrake seems ready to finish Alan off, Tubs unexpectedly shoots Mandrake, closing this violent chapter with a poignant moment of reflection.

Characters


Alan 'Hoaggie' Hoaganraad (Erik Thomson)

Alan is a complex character, embodying the struggle between guilt and the drive for redemption. As a school teacher, his past choices weigh heavily on him, especially as he faces the consequences of his previous ignorance towards the abuse occurring in his care. His character arc explores the depths of his vulnerability as he fights for his family's survival while reckoning with his own failures.

👨‍🏫 Teacher 💔 Guilt 🔒 Redemption

Mandrake (Daniel Gillies)

Mandrake serves as the primary antagonist, a menacing figure whose violent tendencies stem from deep-seated trauma. He is both calculated and unpredictable, leveraging Alan's past to torment him further. His threatening nature starkly contrasts with his revelations, as he reveals layers of pain that reflect the cyclical nature of abuse. This complexity adds to the film's tension and moral conflict.

🔫 Villain 😠 Rage 🕵️‍♂️ Trauma

Jill (Miriama McDowell)

Jill is portrayed as a caring but increasingly beleaguered mother who struggles to maintain hope as her family's situation deteriorates. Her emotional journey highlights the toll of trauma as she faces the heinous reality of their captors. As she attempts to escape, her character reflects resilience and a deep maternal instinct, showcasing the lengths a parent will go to protect loved ones.

👩‍👦‍👦 Mother ✊ Courage 😢 Despair

Tubs (Matthias Luafutu)

Initially perceived as a follower, Tubs reveals a more profound complexity as he confronts Mandrake and ultimately chooses to reject violence. His character arc showcases the struggle between loyalty and morality, leading to a pivotal moment of change that reflects on the choices people must make to break free from cycles of abuse. Tubs' emotional depth adds layers to the narrative's exploration of trauma.

⚔️ Conflict 🕊️ Change 💔 Loyalty

Setting


Time period

The film takes place in contemporary times but evokes themes and social issues that resonate with long-standing societal concerns. It reflects on childhood trauma and the repercussions of past abuses, urging the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about innocence lost and societal neglect. The tension escalates from a mundane family trip to a nightmarish experience, highlighting the fragility of normalcy.

Location

Old Desolate Boarding School, Gas Station, Roadside Picnic Area

The Old Desolate Boarding School serves as a haunting backdrop, filled with the weight of past trauma and dark secrets. It is a place where Alan confronts his guilty past related to the abuse he witnessed and became complicit in. The Gas Station represents a moment of fleeting hope, where Alan tries to reach out for help, but it ultimately becomes a scene of horror when Mandrake reveals his ruthlessness. The Roadside Picnic Area initially provides a semblance of normalcy during the family's trip but quickly turns into the setting for a terrifying encounter that shatters their lives.

🏫 School ⛽ Gas Station 🌳 Nature

Themes


🕵️‍♂️

Redemption

The theme of redemption looms over the character of Alan as he grapples with his past failures in the face of overwhelming horror. His desperate attempts to save his family and the revelation of his complicity in abuse are pivotal moments that force him to confront his conscience. The journey towards redemption is fraught with violence and betrayal, illustrating how one's past can return to haunt them when least expected.

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Survival

Survival is at the forefront of the family's ordeal as they navigate their horrifying encounter with Mandrake and Tubs. Each character's actions are driven by an instinct to survive, often leading to decisions that reveal their true nature under pressure. The psychological strain and physical threats they face highlight the lengths one will go to preserve life when facing life-threatening situations.

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Trauma

Trauma is a pervasive theme, deeply ingrained in the characters' backstories and their current plight. Alan's shameful history and its confrontation in the dark corridors of the boarding school reveal how unresolved trauma affects not only the abuser but also those who suffer from it. The film explores the cyclical nature of trauma, emphasizing the enduring scars it leaves on individuals and the haunting memories that shape their destinies.

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