Jim Tahna (Michael Cudlitz) is a dark tourist (or grief tourist as it is otherwise known): a person fascinated by sites of tragedy and death. A security guard and natural loner, Jim spends most of his days pouring over books and articles about his latest obsession, notorious arsonist Carl Marznap. With some vacation time due, Jim decides to finally pack up and head to California to visit Marznap’s old haunts, including the church where he killed his family and neighbours.
As Jim’s obsession grows and his grip on reality and sanity begins to slip, a chance meeting with a kindly waitress (Melanie Griffith) could help pull him back from the brink.
Director Suri Krishnamma explores the relationship between killer and victim in this simmering slow burner. A gradual sense of foreboding builds and a sense of dread looms in the near distance as Cudlitz’s ticking time bomb flirts with normality before inner turmoil pushes him to an inevitable act of violence.
Though a tad sparse on occasion and disappointingly cliché in parts, Dark Tourist is a memorable and uncomfortable experience nonetheless, largely thanks to an excellent central performance from Cudlitz: mesmerising, terrifying and heart breaking in equal measure. Kudos too to Melanie Griffith who delivers her best performance in years as Jim’s potential saviour.
Overall Verdict: A memorable experience thanks to its two strong leads.
Reviewer: Lee Griffiths