Ineffective red herrings contribute to an overarching sense that the film isn't sure about what destination to choose.

…marketed as horror, this feels more like a straight up thriller, and the minimalism gives it the kind of stripped-down appeal of Steven Spielberg’s Duel. Regular late-night exposure on television has made And Soon the Darkness a well-remembered film…

It's a slow-moving film and one that never has the injection of tense set-pieces required to keep the narrative moving.

Robert Fuest directs at a pace that even a self-respecting snail might consider lethargic.