This is an unusual, experimental independent production concerning the experiences of a couple of American soldiers who’ve gone AWOL following the Battle of the Bulge amidst the devastation of Western Europe. Losey (Ryan Francis) carries emotional baggage and seems fragile, while Deming (Scott MacDonald) appears to be unstable and violent. Their travels eventually lead them to an encounter with a group of orphaned children alongside a wary French couple portrayed by David Warner and Linda Thorson. Jeff Burr wrote and directed "Straight into Darkness" (2004), which was largely self-financed, resulting in a noticeably modest budget. The initial credits reveal this limitation, giving pause as to whether continuing would be worthwhile; however, the quality of the filmmaking beyond that point is surprisingly high, and the actors deliver strong performances. The film establishes a somber and dreamlike atmosphere. It’s possible to envision a combination of elements from “The Thin Red Line” (1998) in terms of its artistic presentation, the backdrop of "When Trumpets Fade" (1998), but with reduced resources, alongside narrative aspects reminiscent of films like “Anzio” (1968) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), which depict soldiers traversing a war-torn environment. Despite its budgetary constraints, "Straight into Darkness" manages to be substantial, atmospheric, introspective, and sticks with you. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 35 minutes and was produced over a two-year period, filming in Romania, Mammoth Mountain, California, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. GRADE: B

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