Brave the Dark is a 2023 American drama film directed by Damian Harris and starring Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton. The film premiered at the Heartland International Film Festival in October 2023, and was released in the United States on January 24, 2025.

Premise

The story, set in 1980s rural Pennsylvania, is based on true events and explores the transformative relationship between a compassionate high school teacher and a troubled teenager. Stan Deen, a dedicated English and drama teacher in New Holland, Pennsylvania, discovers that one of his students, Nate, has been living out of his car and has been arrested. Moved by Nate’s plight, Stan decides to bail him out and offers him a place to stay, aiming to help him graduate high school. As their relationship develops, Stan becomes increasingly involved in uncovering the Dark secrets of Nate’s past, which include witnessing a tragic murder-suicide involving his parents. Through patience and unwavering support, Stan helps Nate confront his traumatic experiences, leading both to personal growth and redemption. The film delves into themes of mentorship, resilience, and the profound impact of empathy in overcoming personal demons. It portrays the challenges and rewards of reaching out to those in need and highlights the transformative power of kindness and understanding. “Brave the Dark” was released in the United States on January 24, 2025, and has received positive reviews for its heartfelt storytelling and strong performances. The film emphasizes the importance of confronting one’s past to build a better future and showcases the enduring impact a dedicated mentor can have on a young person’s life.   

Cast

Jared Harris as Stan Deen, a small-town teacher in 1980s Pennsylvania Nicholas Hamilton as Nate, a homeless teenager living in his car Jamie Harris as Barney, Nate's parole officer Sasha Bhasin as Tina, Nate's girlfriend Will Price as Johnny, Nate's friend Daisy Galvis as the judge overseeing Nate's sentencing Joey Cabrera as Jim Baxter, Tina's Father

Production

Stan Deen was a high school English and Drama teacher of the Garden Spot High School, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from 1967 until his death in 2016. He founded the Garden Spot Performing Arts (GSPA) in 1967. Brave the Dark was written by Dale G. Bradley, Lynn Robertson, John P. Spencer, director Damian Harris and Nathaniel "Nate" Deen. Filming locations included the real Garden Spot High School in Lancaster County where Nathaniel Deen attended and Stan Deen taught as well as the house both lived in. Filming took place between late summer and autumn 2021. Climactic scenes were filmed against the Poplar Neck Bridge near Lancaster in October 2021.

Release

Brave the Dark was released in the United States on January 24, 2025. Brave the Dark was approved by the Angel Guild, a group of voters who vote on the Angel Studios platform.

Reception

= Box office

= In its opening weekend, the film made $2.3 million from 2,230 theaters, finishing in 12th.

= Critical response

= On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 72% of 39 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "A heartfelt true story about overcoming childhood trauma, Brave the Dark proves that kindness and resilience can lead the way to the light." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an 88% positive score, with 66% saying they would definitely recommend it.

= Awards and nominations

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References

External links

Brave the Dark at IMDb