Down a Dark Hall (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Down a Dark Hall is a 2018 drama thriller starring Uma Thurman as Madame Duret, Noah Silver and Kirsty Mitchell. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $2.7 million worldwide. Critics gave it 46% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.0/10.
English What Is Down a Dark Hall About?
The premise of Down a Dark Hall without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
At Blackwood Boarding School, troubled teenager Kit finds herself among four other outcasts, all under the care of the peculiar Madame Duret. As Kit explores the school's secrets, she discovers a complex mystery involving the paranormal. She must confront the dark recesses of her own mind while navigating an ancient enigma where the boundaries of reality become increasingly blurred, and she questions everything she thought she knew.
Down a Dark Hall Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- private school
- schoolgirl
- brat
- troubled teen
- boarding school
- piano playing
- teacher student relationship
- talent
- falling from height
- post credits scene
- girls' boarding school
- headmistress
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to homer
- slow motion scene
- snow globe
- false accusation of arson
- french
- miloprazale
- female flute player
- pills
- reference to marcel proust
- reference to galileo
- cigarette lighter
- reference to giovanni pergolesi
- reference to franz schubert
- reference to wolfgang amadeus mozart
- reference to william kestler
- tape recorder
- reference to ludwig van beethoven
- cigarette smoking
- landscape painting
- reference to robert blake
- reference to lord byron
- reference to john keats
- thunder
- lightning
- hidden art gallery
- overhead camera shot
- attic
- rain
- wall safe
- snow
- stabbing
- police siren
- foreign language spoken
- christmas
- bloody nose
- trance
- burning house
- collapsing building
Down a Dark Hall Cast & Characters
Uma Thurman leads the cast as Madame Duret, with Noah Silver as Jules Duret and Kirsty Mitchell as Ginny Gordy-Dabrowski.
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Uma Thurman as Madame Duret - Noah Silver as Jules Duret
- Kirsty Mitchell as Ginny Gordy-Dabrowski
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AnnaSophia Robb as Katherine 'Kit' Gordy
Also Starring in Down a Dark Hall
· 8 more- Rebecca Front Mrs. Olonsky
- Taylor Russell Ashley
- Isabelle Fuhrman Izzy
- Rosie Day Sierra
- Victoria Moroles Veronica
- Jodhi May Heather Sinclair
- Pip Torrens Professor Farley
- David Elliot Robert Gordon
Down a Dark Hall Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Down a Dark Hall 46% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 58/100, strongest in art & craft (62) and weakest in rewatch factor (54).
Down a Dark Hall Echo Score Breakdown
In Down a Dark Hall, the film’s stylish direction and solid performances are offset by a disjointed narrative and inconsistent pacing. The movie’s gothic visuals and discreet craftsmanship offer a measured atmosphere, though the plot often relies on familiar tropes that undercut suspense. Acting by the leads displays moments of nuance, yet uneven character development limits emotional stakes. The sensory world can feel both moody and frustratingly dim, while its replay value is modest due to predictable elements. Overall, the film yields a moderately mixed experience.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 62
In terms of art and craft, the film displays a measured gothic aesthetic with deliberate framing and clean editing. Direction maintains a consistent tone, and production design offers period-appropriate details. However, frequent underlit sequences and occasional sound imbalances hinder visual clarity. The overall style is competent but uneven, delivering moments of visual intrigue alongside frustratingly dark setups.
- Character & Emotion 61
When it comes to character and emotion, performances offer occasional nuance, notably from the lead adults and some younger actors. The ensemble conveys glimpses of tension, but underdeveloped relationships and uneven chemistry prevent deeper resonance. Character arcs feel telegraphed, with limited growth across viewings. Overall, the emotional impact is modest, hindered by superficial character treatment.
- Story & Flow 56
Regarding story and flow, the narrative blends gothic elements with familiar tropes, resulting in a tone that is occasionally captivating yet frequently predictable. Pacing varies between methodical build-up and abrupt plot turns that can feel disjointed. Originality emerges in selective symbolic moments, though much of the storyline adheres to established molds. The overall engagement is moderate, with suspense undermined by narrative inconsistencies.
- Sensory Experience 58
In sensory terms, the film offers a restrained soundtrack and subtle sound design that contribute to its atmospheric approach. Visual style maintains a cohesive gothic mood, yet frequent underexposure and audio imbalances detract from immersion. Moments of effective tension occur, but the overall sensory experience is undermined by inconsistent clarity and overly dark sequences.
- Rewatch Factor 54
In terms of rewatch value, the film offers a few intriguing motifs but limited lasting appeal. Predictable narrative turns and uneven emotional arcs reduce incentive for multiple viewings. While certain aesthetic flourishes reward repeat observation, the lack of sustained suspense and character development leads to a modest replay factor. Overall, its appeal diminishes on subsequent watches.
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IMDb 5.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 46% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 21%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 56 Metascore
User score 5.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.4 /5
6 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 1.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Down a Dark Hall Plot Summary
What happens in Down a Dark Hall from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ginny Gordy-Dabrowski and her second husband, Dave Dabrowski, send Ginny’s troubled teenage daughter, Katherine ‘Kit’ Gordy, to the mysterious Blackwood Boarding School. Upon her arrival, she is greeted by the peculiar headmistress, Madame Duret, and the stern housekeeper, Miss Olonsky. Kit quickly notices an ominous door at the end of a dimly lit hallway, which Madame Duret warns is strictly off-limits.
Kit soon bonds with other troubled girls, including Ashley, Izzy, Sierra, and Veronica, who frequently cross paths with her. After confining everyone’s cellphones, Madame Duret insists that her strict regulations ensure each girl reaches her full potential. Subsequently, Miss Olonsky begins administering nightly medication to the students.
Full summary
The whole story of Down a Dark Hall, scene by scene
Down a Dark Hall Box Office
Down a Dark Hall grossed $2.7 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2.7M
- International
- $2.7M
Down a Dark Hall Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Down a Dark Hall.
How Well Do You Know Down a Dark Hall?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of Kit's school?
Down a Dark Hall Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Blackwood” and “Corredor assombrado”.
- Also known as
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- Blackwood
- Corredor assombrado
- Por um Corredor Escuro
- Темні коридори
- Далі по коридору
- במעמקי המסדרון האפל
- Blackwood : Le Pensionnat
- 邪恶宿舍夜惊魂
- Sötét folyosók
- Korytarzem w mrok
- Дальше по коридору
- 다운 어 다크 홀
+14 more Show fewer
- Vartai į anapus
- Σκοτεινός Διάδρομος
- La maldición de Blackwood
- 闇影學園
- Gece Yarısı Bir Çığlık Duydum
- Тъмната зала на Дарк Хол
- Hành Lang Bí Ẩn
- โรงเรียนปีศาจ
- Низ мрачни ходник
- انتهای دالانی تاریک
- Temné osnovy
- 步驚魂學院
- Tumšajā gaitenī
- ダーク・スクール
Seen Down a Dark Hall?
Movies Like Down a Dark Hall
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including In a Dark Place, Innocence and The Curse of Downers Grove.
Down a Dark Hall FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Down a Dark Hall, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Down a Dark Hall?
Down a Dark Hall runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Down a Dark Hall released?
Down a Dark Hall was released on August 17, 2018.
Who is in the cast of Down a Dark Hall?
Down a Dark Hall stars Uma Thurman as Madame Duret, Noah Silver as Jules Duret and Kirsty Mitchell as Ginny Gordy-Dabrowski, among 12 credited actors.
How much did Down a Dark Hall make at the box office?
Down a Dark Hall grossed $2.7 million worldwide.
How is Down a Dark Hall rated?
Down a Dark Hall has 5.0/10 on IMDb, 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56 on Metacritic and 56% on TMDB.
Does Down a Dark Hall have a post-credit scene?
No. Down a Dark Hall has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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