Film Review: ‘The Dark Horse’ Rises with Performance of Cliff Curtis

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CHICAGO – The narrow genre of chess movies (“Searching for Bobby Fischer,” “Pawn Sacrifice”) gets a New Zealand entry, the appropriately titled “The Dark Horse.” The film is a showcase for the performance of Cliff Curtis as the title character, abiding with mental instability and his own redemption.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

Cliff Curtis is notable because he takes what could have been a very showy or inert interpretation of mental illness, and brought a particular energy that exposed the trials of the character, based on a true life New Zealand chess champion (nicknamed the “Dark Horse”). He plays the role on the edge of nerve racking, which makes his assignment to bring a rag-tag bunch of ne’er do wells to a state chess tourney less precious, and more goal oriented. The story has both horrifying and charming moments, and oddly they work in tandem, and never clash.

Genesis (Curtis) has just been released from an institution, where he has stabilized a lifelong bipolar disorder. He has nowhere to go, so his biker gang brother Akiri (Wayne Hapi) reluctantly takes him in, and Genesis reacquaints himself with his nephew Mana (James Rolleston). The home life is frayed, and Genesis has to find something to do.

Being a former New Zealand chess champion, he seeks a youth group to teach his craft. The group he finds is mostly indigent children, brought together through the facilitation of Dave (James Napier Robertson, also the director). As Genesis begins to teach both his nephew and the chess club the moves, the goal suddenly is to participate in the state championships in Auckland. The question is, can Genesis get there without relapse?

“The Dark Horse” has a limited release, including Chicago on April 15th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Wayne Hapi, James Napier Robertson and Miriama McDowell. Written and directed by James Napier Robertson. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Dark Horse”

Cliff Curtis
Cliff Curtis as Genesis in ‘The Dark Horse’
Photo credit: Broad Green Pictures

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Dark Horse”

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