Dark Days review

Living in the shadows

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An extraordinary portrait of resilience surfaces in Marc Singer’s 2000 documentary, which plunges into the Amtrak tunnels beneath Manhattan to explore the lives of their inhabitants.

Singer spent two years with runaway Tommy, crack-addict Dee and other tunnel-dwellers, who helped make his film by tapping power sources.

Mutual trust forged, Singer neither sentimentalises nor sensationalises their stories he presents their struggles, sadnesses and survival with conviction.

The ending stumbles, but not enough to tarnish this study of life lived under society’s radar.

Freelance writer

Kevin Harley is a freelance journalist with bylines at Total Film, Radio Times, The List, and others, specializing in film and music coverage. He can most commonly be found writing movie reviews and previews at 12DOVE.