Dark Skies movie review: ET’s come home

The attractive Keri Russell, who made such an impact in the TV series The Americans, takes on a different enemy here as she tries to save her family from the aliens.

The Barretts are a normal suburban family who are worried about their mortgage. Their dad, Daniel (Hamilton), is an architect without a job and mom Lacy (Russell), an estate agent whose commissions have dropped radically. They are in financial trouble.

Thirteen-year-old Jesse (Goya) is just getting interested in girls, while six-year-old Sammy (Kadan Rockett) has occasional nightmares, thanks to Jesse’s scary bedtime stories.

The film is strong on atmosphere and director Stewart is at pains to give the characters some depth, playing on the sort of fear we encounter in our everyday lives; the mysterious disappearances of children. Dark Skies is one of the better offerings in the genre.