The Dark Red (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Dark Red is a 2020 mystery thriller directed by Dan Bush, starring Rhoda Griffis as Rose Holyfield, April Billingsley and Jill Jane Clements. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $736,153 worldwide. Critics gave it 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.
English What Is The Dark Red About?
The premise of The Dark Red without spoilers.
A mother's frantic plea for help is met with skepticism when she claims her baby is threatened by a dark cult. Dismissed by authorities and institutionalized, she fights to prove her fears are real and rescue her child from a sinister danger. As she struggles to uncover the truth, the baby's safety hangs in the balance, and the line between reality and paranoia blurs.
The Dark Red Themes & Keywords
· 5 tags- evil secret society
- cult
- revenge
- schizophrenia
- baby
The Dark Red Cast & Characters
Rhoda Griffis leads the cast as Rose Holyfield, with April Billingsley as Sybil Warren and Jill Jane Clements as Kathrine Warren. Directed by Dan Bush; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director Dan Bush
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Rhoda Griffis as Rose Holyfield -
April Billingsley as Sybil Warren - Jill Jane Clements as Kathrine Warren
- Kelsey Scott as Dr. Deluce
Also Starring in The Dark Red
· 5 more- Bernard Setaro Clark Dr. Morales
- Blaire Hillman Woman in the purple coat
- Conal Byrne David Hollyfield
- Katie Hahn Pregnant woman
- Robert Mello Grieving Man
More from Dan Bush
More films directed by Dan Bush, best-rated first: The Signal, The Vault, The Reconstruction of William Zero and Billy The Kid: New Evidence.
The Dark Red Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Dark Red 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 62/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
The Dark Red Echo Score Breakdown
In The Dark Red, a tension-filled premise and strong lead performance are offset by uneven narrative cohesion and pacing. The film’s direction and editing show resourceful visual choices, yet its low budget occasionally constrains production scope and story clarity. Acting is generally engaging, though character motivations can feel underexplored. Sensory elements like lighting and sound design enhance mood, but its moderate pace and predictability reduce lasting appeal. Overall, the film offers intriguing moments without fully sustaining its thriller ambitions.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 50
In terms of production design and direction, the film balances inventive framing with evident budgetary constraints. Visual choices in flashback sequences demonstrate resourceful cinematography, yet some scenes suffer from uneven editing and limited set variety. The low budget occasionally restricts the scope of practical effects, leading to muted backgrounds and sparse environments. Overall, the craft elements signal ambition but fall short of fully supporting the narrative’s complexity.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to acting and emotional resonance, performances are generally convincing, anchored by a compelling lead role that conveys underlying tension. Occasional lapses in vocal inflection and minor unevenness among supporting actors introduce temporary detachment. The character arcs provide enough depth for basic empathy, though motivations sometimes feel underdeveloped. Overall, the film delivers solid yet inconsistent emotional engagement.
- Story & Flow 65
In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the screenplay offers a mix of intriguing twists and uneven structure. Flashback-driven revelations maintain interest, but narrative jumps and underexplained relationships generate confusion. While certain sequences unfold with measured tension, the final act lacks resolution and can feel anticlimactic. Overall, the story engages sporadically without achieving sustained momentum.
- Sensory Experience 75
When considering sensory elements, the film employs effective lighting and sound design to heighten its tense atmosphere. Closeup framing and selective score choices underscore psychological unease, while violent imagery offers vivid impact. However, occasional lapses in sound mixing and sparse set decoration diminish immersion. Overall, visual style and audio cues largely support mood, despite intermittent technical limitations.
- Rewatch Factor 45
When it comes to replay value, the film’s uneven narrative and moderate pace limit the desire for repeat viewings. Occasional suspenseful moments and the final twist may reward a second look, but underdeveloped motivations and predictability reduce lasting intrigue. Overall, the movie holds fleeting interest without strong beckoning for a rewatch.
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IMDb 5.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 75% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 58%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Movie Insider 4.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Dark Red Box Office
The Dark Red grossed $736,153 worldwide. $157,252 came from the US and Canada and $578,901 (79%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$736.2K
- US & Canada
- $157.3K
- International
- $578.9K
The Dark Red Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Dark Red.
Cars in The Dark Red
3 cars on screen, including the 1995 Chevrolet C-Series and the 2003 Toyota 4Runner.
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1995 Chevrolet C-Series Minor role -
2003 Toyota 4Runner Minor role -
2018 Ford F-150 Background role
Seen The Dark Red?
Movies Like The Dark Red
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Baby, The Red House and Darkness.
The Dark Red FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Dark Red, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Dark Red?
The Dark Red runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was The Dark Red released?
The Dark Red was released on March 6, 2020.
Who directed The Dark Red?
The Dark Red was directed by Dan Bush.
More films by Dan Bush Who is in the cast of The Dark Red?
The Dark Red stars Rhoda Griffis as Rose Holyfield, April Billingsley as Sybil Warren and Jill Jane Clements as Kathrine Warren, among 9 credited actors.
How much did The Dark Red make at the box office?
The Dark Red grossed $736,153 worldwide ($157,252 domestic, $578,901 international).
How is The Dark Red rated?
The Dark Red has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 4.2/5 on Movie Insider.
Does The Dark Red have a post-credit scene?
No. The Dark Red has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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