Alone in the Dark (2005)

Alone in the Dark (2005)

Alone in the Dark (2005) is another special effects laden film based on a video game, helmed by Uwe Boll (regarded by many as one of the world's worst directors). The film is based on the video game Alone in the Dark series of videogames started in 1992. One interesting note is that the film is supposed to mirror the storyline of Alone in the Dark 5 aka Alone in the Dark: Near Death Investigation but Eden games decided at the last minute to completely rework the game, including the plot, which makes the film version appear to deviate completely from the storylines of the games. However it was the game developer who changed the story at the last minute, not the filmmakers.

Glock 17

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) and Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid) both use Glock Pistols.

A Generation 3 Glock 17 9mm

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) steals a policeman's Glock pistol and uses it to fight off an attacking hybrid human in an open air market.

Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid) uses the Glock given to her by Carnby in a battle at the museum.

Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid) fires her Glock in a battle at the museum.

Colt Anaconda

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) carries a Colt Anaconda (.44 magnum) as his primary sidearm.

Colt Anaconda - .44 Magnum

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) hides with his Colt Anaconda during the attach on the museum.

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) holds a Colt Anaconda as the monsters try to break through the metal door.

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) holds a Colt Anaconda while hunting for more human hybrid zombies.

Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) aims a Colt Anaconda at the ground, looking for mutant Zeno worms.

Colt M4 Carbine

The primary weapon of the Bureau 713's commandos is the M4 Carbine, outfitted with RIS rails, a flashlight and laser, usually fitted with an Elcan sight on the receiver's flat top and a "Zeno" tracker on the foreward grip top rail. This Blinking LED "Zeno Tracker" is actually a Zircon Stud Finder!

The "High Tech Futuristic Zeno Tracking Device" is in reality ... a Zircon Stud Finder, available at any Hardware store

Colt M4A1 Carbine with M68 Aimpoint reflex optic and Knight's Armament RAS railed handguard and vertical forward grip - 5.56x45mm

A good side shot of the M4's configuration in the movie, including the black "High tech" stud finder mounted above the barrel.

Agent Cheung (Françoise Yip) carries her M4 which she switches back and forth with a Calico M951A rifle in the film. This shows the unusual short flash hider used on these guns which make the super hot star burst flash that angles outward in a full circle rather than a forward star burst.

An example of the super hot full star burst flash from the short flash hiders on these M4 carbines.

A good effects shot of an M4 firing at a Zeno Monster.

Another example of the amazing flash pattern from the M4s in the film.

A good side shot of the M4's configuration during the battle.

Another shot of the fireballs from the flash hiders.

A closeup of the lower receiver on one of the M4s.

This gun was previously a Calico M-951A

M16

Mixed in with the M4 carbines, are M16s with A2 handguards are also visible.

The original M16, the first version, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Army in Vietnam. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1 - 5.56mm

A Bureau 713 soldiers aims his M16 with slab side and A2 handguards - 5.56mm

A Bureau 713 soldiers carries his M16 with slab side and A2 handguards slung - 5.56mm

M60E3

One of the Bureau 713 commandos is seen prepping an M60E3 for the final assault.

M60E3 machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO

To the left a commando readies his M60E3 - 7.62x51mm

GE M134 Minigun

Set up like 'smart guns' from films like Aliens and Congo the miniguns are set to fire at anything moving within 50 feet (since past 50 feet are another barrier and past that are the trip wire mines). Unfortunately, the Zeno creatures phase in and out of our dimension so they're hard to hit.

GE M134 Minigun in 7.62x51mm NATO

Agent Feenstra (Ona Grauer) tests the 'auto aiming' sensors of the M134 minigun, set up as a smart gun.

A minigun fires at the Zeno monsters.

The miniguns run dry of ammo during the battle. Note the M16 type pistol grip with the power cable attatched.

Browning M2HB

Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG

Soldier rides past on a Humvee with a Browning M2HB machine gun - .50 BMG

Closer shot of the Browning M2HB machine gun - .50 BMG

During the night battle, the soldier fires his Browning M2HB machine gun - .50 BMG

Beretta Inox

Seen in a closeup during the museum battle, this is a 2nd unit shot of a hand firing a Beretta Inox. Unfortunately it is intercut with a sequence of Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid) firing her Glock, so it is a continuity break.

Cmdr. Richard Burke (Stephen Dorff) uses the Stainless Steel Beretta Inox as his primary sidearm.

Calico M-951A Automatic Rifle

Mixed in with the M4 Carbines of the Bureau 713 commandos are a number of Calico M-951A Full auto rifles (not the 955A since these rifles have full length barrels). These 951A rifles are outfitted with M900S Full buttstocks (an easy swap out). They have Calico style scope mounts and short optical scopes as well as Flashlights, foregrips and the same custom IR designator as seen on the M4 Carbines.

Side shot of the Calico M-951 Rifles with tactical add ons - 9mm

Closeup shot of Agent Cheung's Calico Scope mount and short optical scope

An example of the previously mentioned swapping of rifles. Agent Cheung (Françoise Yip) changes between an M4 Carbine and a Calico M-951 throughout the final half of the film, though in the timeline of the story, she 'could' have swapped them out herself since she uses the same rifle for major blocks of time.

A closeup of the full stock of the Calico Rifle, indicating that it has the 900S stock.

Cmdr. Richard Burke (Stephen Dorff) uses a Calico M-951A while he searches the abandoned medical facility - 9mm

M230 Chain Gun

Hughes M230 chain gun, 30mm.

Bureau 713's air support are Apache gunships firing M230 Chain Guns mounted beneath the nose of the rotorcraft - 30mm

Trivia

Firefight

For a bad Owe Boll film, the battle between Bureau 713 commandos and the Zenos is pretty good. The Special effects are nice, though the editing is schizophrenic. Too much speed metal rock music and 'shaky cam' editing, but there are good gore effects and the Zeno monsters are an example of good CGI (in comparison to the cheap CGI seen so often on movies 'made for the Sci Fi Channel').

A Reptilian "Zeno Warrior" attacks the perimeter and shrugs off tons of automatic weapons fire from Bureau 713 commandos.

A Reptilian "Zeno Warrior" takes a bite out of a hapless 713 Commando. The CGI effects were quite good and high end, despite weak points in the plot, the script, the direction, the editing, ......