Dark Rising

Last updated
Dark Rising
Darkrisingwarriorposter.png
Directed byAndrew Cymek
Written by
Produced by
  • Mihkel Harilaid
  • Brigitte Kingsley
Production
companies

Dark Rising is a sword and sorcery adult-oriented franchise of two made-for-television films, a twelve-episode television miniseries and another five-episode television miniseries, from the husband and wife team of Andrew Cymek and Brigitte Kingsley. The franchise is written by creator Cymek, produced by Kingsley and adapted for film and television by executive producer Mihkel Harilaid. The original film in the series, Dark Rising: Bring Your Battle Axe (2007), introduced lead character Summer Vale, played by Kingsley through the entire series of films.

Contents

The series continued with the television series Dark Rising: The Savage Tales of Summer Vale (2011), the television film Dark Rising: Summer Strikes Back (2011) and the five-episode television series Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds (2014). The franchise is a joint production of Harilaid's Black Walk Films and Cymek's Defiant Empire Films.

Synopsis

There are two Earths: our Earth and Dark Earth. Dark Earth is a world of demons and magic. It is in a dimension created at the height of the Roman Empire by a powerful sorcerer, in an attempt to banish demons from our Earth, forever. The franchise follows the exploits of Summer Vale and her allies, as they battle to save humanity. Their fight takes them all over both Earths.

Summer Vale is a half-human half-demon hybrid. When she was a young girl, her father worked on deciphering ancient texts. When he read from the Book of Shadows, a portal opened, and a group of "agents" took his daughter. Summer was experimented on and used by the government to find a way to combine human and demon DNA, in order to win a secret war waged for thousands of years.

Series releases

Dark Rising: Bring Your Battle Axe (2007)

In a desperate attempt to save his fizzled-out relationship, Jason organizes a camping trip with the help of his best friends: Ricky, a ladies' man who shoots "1-900" commercials, Marlene, a long-time friend and yoga instructor, and Renee, a book worm with a knack for witchcraft.

Each for their own reasons, they convince Jasmine to join them for a weekend of fun in the sun. Unknown to the group, Renee has been having recurring nightmares of Summer Vale, a girl from their town, who disappeared over twenty years earlier. Renee decides to contact Summer's spirit during the camping trip. Also unknown to the boys, Jasmine and Marlene have become a hot item. They join in the fun and humor Renee's interest in magic.

Using the Book of Shadows, which she received from a mysterious bookkeeper, Renee chants a translated phrase. This opens a portal, and a Kellipoth demon enters, killing Marlene and biting Jasmine. Summer Vale is also transported back. She has lost her memories and is now a demon warrior princess.

Jason and Summer form an uneasy bond. They decide to reopen the portal, to return the demon to Dark Earth.

The Kellipoth bite infects Jasmine, making her a member of the Kingdom of Shells -- demon-like beings without a soul. Jason kills Jasmine but it is too late to save his best friend, as Ricky also succumbs to the Kellipoth. In the ferocious battle, Summer, Jason, and Renee manage to open the portal. Summer kills Demon-Ricky, the Kellipoth breaks Renee's neck, and Jason and Summer force the Kellipoth back through the portal. Jason makes the heroic sacrifice of entering the portal with the Kellipoth, allowing Summer to remain on Earth.

Reintegrating proves difficult for Summer. She can only find work as a model for "1-900" commercials. But her misery is brief. Jason, dressed as a Demon-hunter, returns for her help against an army of Kellipoths. At the bleakest point, the Agency offers help.

Featuring

StarringAs
Landy CannonJason Parks
Jay Reso Ricky
Brigitte KingsleySummer Vale
Julia SchneiderRenee Phillips

Crew

Created ByAndrew Cymek
WriterAndrew Cymek
ProducerBrigitte Kinsgley
CinematographerBrad Smith
Music ComposersMarty Beecroft and
Joe Heslip
EditorAndrew Cymek

Reception

Scott Foy of Dread Central rated it 2/5 stars and wrote, "What we have here is a handsome-looking, low budget production with an attractive cast who seem up to the task but everyone’s hard work is scuttled by a script that comedically isn’t anywhere as hip or witty as it thinks it is and plot-wise borders on complete gibberish." [1] David Johnson of DVD Verdict wrote, "Slow parts aside, Dark Rising is big fun, wallowing in the excesses of B-movie." [2] Adam Tyner of DVD Talk rated it 2/5 stars and compared it negatively to Army of Darkness . [3]

Nominations

The film was nominated for a record six Canadian Comedy Awards in 2008, in the categories of Best Writing (Cymek), Best Direction (Cymek), Best Actress (Kingsley and Schneider) and Best Actor (Cannon and Reso).

Dark Rising: The Savage Tales of Summer Vale (2011)

The Savage Tales of Summer Vale is a series of twelve half-hour television episodes. The series follows the continuing exploits of Demon Slayer Summer Vale and her entourage of misfits as they try to save the world each week from imminent destruction.

Having grown up in the demon dimension and enduring years of underground government training, Summer is finally back home and struggling to adjust to her new surroundings. She is recruited to head a government covert agency which, unknown to her, has its own agenda. Summer meets with a mysterious group calling themselves The Dark Shadows Club. They warn of her upcoming battle with The Dark Lord and how all of existence hangs in the balance, but not everything is what it seems.

Featuring

StarringAs
Brigitte KingsleySummer Vale
Landy CannonJason Parks
Matti McLeanKevin Weeber
Danielle BakerTemura
Katherine CollettLaura

Crew

DirectorAndrew Cymek
WriterAndrew Cymek
ProducerBrigitte Kingsley
Original MusicJames Chapple,
Graeme Cornies,
David Brian Kelly,
Brian L. Pickett
CinematographerAndrew Cymek
EditorAndrew Cymek
Series MusicMike Ell and
Josh Zandman

Dark Rising: Summer Strikes Back (2011)

Also known as Agency of Vengeance: Dark Rising, the made-for-television film takes place two years after Jason Parks saved Princess Summer Vale from her life hunting Kellipoths in the Demon dimension. A sudden surge of supernatural activity and violent attacks resurface on Earth beyond the normal parameters. The two must once again join together to save the world. The Rising Dark Agency, a black ops division of the Government headed by Colonel Haggerd, suspects that the mystic strikes are the work of Mardock, an evil Demon-God capable of destroying worlds. The entire Agency is on high alert but there's more to the story than they know. With the help of field agent Holly, Jason's new partner Daniel, and half-demon Bulo, Summer and Jason set out to solve the mystery of Mardock and prevent the coming apocalypse. But no one is prepared for whom they find behind the Dark Lord's ascension.

Featuring

StarringAs
Brigitte Kingsley Summer Vale
Landy Cannon Jason Parks
Mike "Nug" Nahrgang Bulo
Julia Schneider Renee Phillips
Cory Lee Holly
Michael Ironside Colonel Hagger
Lauren Williams Rosemary Black
Kyle Buchanan Daniel Evans
Matti McLean Kevin Weeber
Andrew Cymek Kyle

Crew

DirectorAndrew Cymek
WriterAndrew Cymek
ProducerBrigitte Kingsley
Original MusicJames Chapple,
Graeme Cornies,
David Brian Kelly (as David Kelly),
Brian L. Pickett
CinematographerAndrew Cymek
Visual EffectsDoug Lentz - Visual Effects Supervisor
Andrew Cymek
Music ComposersMike Ell
Josh Zandman

Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds (2014)

The franchise returned in 2014 with a brief five-episode television series. There are two Earths: our Earth, a place where magic and demons are things of folklore and legend, and Dark Earth, a dimension created at the height of the Roman Empire by the sorcerer Aramas using the Tether, a powerful device of his own creation. His intention was to exile magic and usher in a new age of man. His plan almost succeeded.

The Tether, the key to keeping the dimensions separate, has remained hidden on our Earth for two millennia. Now it has been found in a small northern town by Nacelle, a demon underlord. Sckraab, his lord and father, plans to use the Tether to open a permanent portal across the Void between the Earths and conquer both worlds.

Before the Demons get to the Tether, a young miner, Nathan Mallstrom, stumbles upon the artifact during one of his shifts. Caught in the imminent battle for the Earth’s future, Nathan joins with Summer Vale, a super soldier with Demon DNA who is dealing with her own clouded past. The two, along with Nathan’s sister Gwen and Summer's sidekick Bulo, try to unlock the mystery of the Tether and fight to protect the world from a Demonic army.

Featuring

StarringAs
Brigitte KingsleySummer Vale
Mike "Nug" Nahrgang Bulo
Jacob BlairNathan Mallstrom
Vanessa BrozeGwen Mallstrom
Mishael Morgan Nancy Leighton
Colin Mochrie Nacelle "The Nefarious"
Adrienne MerrellSheila Stanton
Scott ThompsonSckraab
Peter Outerbridge Aramas
Art Hindle Davidath Galba Julius
Lauren "Angelina Love" Williams Rosemary Black
Brian Krause Bob Danton
Jeremy London Marton
Matti McLeanKevin Weeber

Crew

DirectorAndrew Cymek
WritersMihkel Harilaid
Andrew Cymek
ProducerCraig Fleming
CinematographerRhett Morita
EditorAndrew Cymek
Andrew Kowalchuk

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordelia Chase</span> Character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel

Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series, Angel. Portrayed by Charisma Carpenter, the character appears as a series regular in the first three seasons of Buffy, before leaving the show and becoming a series regular during the first four seasons of Angel. The character made her last television appearance in 2004, appearing as a special guest star in Angel's 100th episode. Cordelia also appears in both canonical and apocryphal Buffy and Angel material such as comic books and novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffy Summers</span> Lead character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy Anne Summers is the title character of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise. She first appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to appear in The WB/UPN 1997–2003 television series and subsequent 1998–2018 Dark Horse and 2019–present Boom! Studios comic series of the same name. The character has also appeared in the spin-off series Angel, as well as numerous expanded universe materials such as novels and video games. Buffy was portrayed by Kristy Swanson in the film and by Sarah Michelle Gellar in the television series. Giselle Loren has lent her voice to the character in both the Buffy video games and an unproduced animated series, while Kelly Albanese lent her voice to the character in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight motion comics.

<i>Earth: Final Conflict</i> American-Canadian television series

Earth: Final Conflict is a science fiction television series based on ideas developed by Gene Roddenberry. The series was produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who possessed notes kept by Roddenberry that would provide the conceptual basis for the series. It ran for five seasons between October 6, 1997, and May 20, 2002.

<i>Angel</i> (1999 TV series) American television series (1999–2004)

Angel is an American supernatural television series, a spinoff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffy's creator, writer and director Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt. It aired on The WB from October 5, 1999, to May 19, 2004, consisting of five seasons and 110 episodes. Like Buffy, it was produced by Whedon's production company, Mutant Enemy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobgoblin (comics)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

The Hobgoblin is the alias of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most of whom are depicted as enemies of the superhero Spider-Man and belong to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery, most of whom are brainwashed by the Winkler Device into becoming Hobgoblins. Created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita Jr., the first incarnation of the Hobgoblin was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #238 as a criminal mastermind equipped with Halloween-themed weapons similar to those used by the Green Goblin.

A parallel universe, also known as an alternate universe, parallel world, parallel dimension, alternate reality, or alternative dimension, is a hypothetical self-contained plane of existence, co-existing with one's own. The sum of all potential parallel universes that constitute reality is often called a "multiverse". While the six terms are generally synonymous and can be used interchangeably in most cases, there is sometimes an additional connotation implied with the term "alternate universe/reality" that implies that the reality is a variant of our own, with some overlap with the similarly named alternate history.

The Buffyverse or Slayerverse is a media franchise created by Joss Whedon. The term also refers to the shared fictional universe in which the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are set. This term, originally coined by fans of the TV series, has since been used in the titles of published works, and adopted by Joss Whedon, the creator of the fictional universe. The Buffyverse is a place in which supernatural phenomena exist, and supernatural evil can be challenged by people willing to fight against such forces. Much of the licensed Buffyverse merchandise and media, while being official, is not considered to be canon within the universe.

Angel (<i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>) Character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel

Angel is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt for the American television programs Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series Angel. The character is portrayed by actor David Boreanaz. As introduced in Buffy in 1997, Angel is a love interest for heroine Buffy Summers, a young woman whose destiny as "the Slayer" is to fight the forces of evil, such as vampires and demons. However, their relationship is complicated by the fact that Angel is himself a vampire cursed with remorse and a human soul, which motivates him to assist Buffy in her duties as Slayer. The character's popularity led to the production of the spin-off Angel, which follows the character's struggle towards redemption after moving to Los Angeles. In addition to the two television series, the character appears in the comic book continuations of both series, as well as much other expanded universe literature.

Connor (<i>Angel</i>) Character in the television series Angel

Connor is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and Tim Minear for the television series Angel. The character is portrayed as an infant by the triplets Connor, Jake, and Trenton Tupen and as a teenager by Vincent Kartheiser. Connor has a recurring role in season three, becomes a regular in season four, and has his last television appearance in the series finale as a guest star. He continues his story in the canonical comic book series Angel: After the Fall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baron Mordo</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly as an adversary of Doctor Strange. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #111. Baron Mordo is a gifted magician, especially adept in the black arts of magic, including summoning demons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgaine le Fey (DC Comics)</span> Comic book character

Morgaine le Fey is a supervillainess appearing in DC Comics, based on Morgan le Fay, the mythical sorceress and half-sister of King Arthur. She debuted in The Demon #1, and was created by Jack Kirby.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> (2003 TV series) Animated series

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series developed by Lloyd Goldfine. It is the second animated series and third television series in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The series premiered on February 8, 2003, as part of Fox's FoxBox programming block and ended on February 28, 2009. A sequel film, Turtles Forever, serving as both the series finale of the series and a crossover with the 1987–1996 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, was released on November 21, 2009.

"Sacrifice" is episode 20 of season 4 in the television show Angel.

<i>Hellraiser</i> (franchise) Horror franchise

Hellraiser is a British-American horror media franchise that consists of eleven films, as well as various comic books, and additional merchandise and media. Based on the novella The Hellbound Heart by English author Clive Barker, the franchise centers around the Cenobites which includes the primary antagonist named Pinhead.

<i>Night Wizard!</i> Japanese fantasy role-playing game

Night Wizard! is a Japanese contemporary fantasy role-playing game designed by Takeshi Kikuchi and FarEast Amusement Research (F.E.A.R.) released in 2002. In the modern-day earth campaign setting, player characters called Wizards (ウィザード) fight against the world enemy named Emulators (エミュレーター) and their lords Maō (魔王) and explore the dungeons built by Emulators.

Black Walk is a Canadian film and television production company located in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. The former music video production company is now known for producing films, television programs, and the Dark Rising series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mihkel Harilaid</span> Canadian film producer

Mihkel Harilaid, also known as Mike Harilaid, is the CEO and executive producer of Black Walk, a Canadian feature film and television production company.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series developed by Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, and Jennifer Ventimilia for Nickelodeon, based on the characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The series begins with the Turtles emerging from their sewer home for the first time, using their ninjutsu training to fight enemies in present-day New York City. The series ran in the United States from September 28, 2012, to November 12, 2017.

<i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten</i>

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten is the sequel to the Season Nine comic book series, a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series is published by Dark Horse Comics and ran from March 2014 to August 2016.

References

  1. Foy, Scott (2008-09-08). "Dark Rising (2008)". Dread Central . Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  2. Johnson, David (2008-08-21). "Dark Rising". DVD Verdict . Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  3. Tyner, Adam (2008-08-15). "Dark Rising". DVD Talk . Retrieved 2014-11-12.