Dark Days - Documentary
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Posted by Calum Sager on 31 October 2012


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As we all know, reality is often far more scary than fiction. As it is Halloween today it seems only right for us to get into the spirit of the occasion. 'Dark Days' is a cinematic portrait of the homeless population who live permanently in the underground tunnels of New York City. A population unbeknown to the masses that walk above them. Living in damp, squalid, pitch black and generally terrifying conditions you won't believe that this is set in the Big Apple.

After arriving in New York from Britain, Marc Singer heard rumours of a community living in the subway. Many thought the rumours weren't based in any truth. Compelled to find out for himself, Singer took the brave plunge down into the abandoned tunnel systems, where he met and became close to a group of people living in The Freedom Tunnel community stretching north from Penn Station past Harlem. After spending a few months living down there, he decided to make a documentary about the community in order to try and get them some financial aid.

Having never made a film before Singer set about this mammoth task, doubling up the documentary subjects as the film's crew, who rigged up makeshift lighting and steadicam dollies, and learned to use a 16mm camera with black-and-white Kodak film. The film features music by DJ Shadow, including excerpts from Endtroducing... as well as his album with U.N.K.L.E. He also composed original music for the 'Main Theme' of the film, released on the single "Dark Days". We won't give away the whole plot, but as well intensely being intensely eerie and unsettling the film is also incredibly touching and poignant. A real must watch, happy Halloween.
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An online oracle of all things cultural, from music, art, design, literature, entertainment and beyond, Spilt Milk is a carefully selected celebration of all that we find beautiful or fascinating, providing our readers with their daily fix of inspiration and reference.
An online oracle of all things cultural, from music, art, design, literature, entertainment and beyond, Spilt Milk is a carefully selected celebration of all that we find beautiful or fascinating, providing readers with their daily fix of inspiration and reference.

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