Honestly, most "caveman movies" are pretty bad. You know the drill—a lot of grunting, some questionable fur costumes, and maybe a stray dinosaur that definitely shouldn't be there because, well, science. But the Out of the Darkness movie (originally titled The Origin) is doing something way more interesting. It’s a survival horror flick set 45,000 years ago, and it doesn't treat our ancestors like idiots. It treats them like us. Scared, desperate, and remarkably capable.
Directed by Andrew Cumming, this film landed with a bit of a splash at film festivals before finding its way to wider audiences. It’s set in the Paleolithic era. A small group of humans arrives on a desolate shore, hoping for a better life. Spoiler: They don't find one. Instead, they find a cold, barren wasteland and something—or someone—hunting them in the shadows.
If you’re looking for Quest for Fire or 10,000 BC, you’re in the wrong place. This is a lean, mean, 87-minute exercise in tension that feels more like The Witch or The Ritual than a history documentary. It’s gritty. It’s brutal. And it actually bothers to use a specially constructed language called "Tola," developed by a linguist and an anthropologist. That's the kind of nerd-level detail that makes a movie feel real.
What's actually happening in Out of the Darkness?
The plot is deceptively simple. Six people land in a new territory. There’s the aging leader, Adem (played by Chuku Modu), his pregnant partner, his young son, a stray "stray" girl named Beyah (Safia Oakley-Green), and a couple of others. They are starving. The land is empty. Then, the noises start.
One by one, the group starts to fracture. They think it's a demon. They think it's a spirit. The fear of the unknown is the real killer here, and the Out of the Darkness movie leans hard into the psychological toll of being the bottom of the food chain. Beyah is the standout character. She’s an "outcast" within an outcast group, and her survival instincts are the only thing keeping the movie from becoming a total bloodbath in the first twenty minutes.
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I love that the film uses the environment as a character. The Scottish Highlands—where they filmed—look absolutely miserable. Not "postcard" Scotland, but "I'm going to die of hypothermia in ten minutes" Scotland. It adds a layer of authenticity that CGI just can't touch.
Why the "Caveman Language" matters
Most people might find subtitles annoying, but in the Out of the Darkness movie, the Tola language is essential. It strips away the modern baggage. When characters speak, they aren't using complex metaphors; they are talking about fire, meat, death, and "The Beast."
Daniel Turk, the linguist who helped create the language, worked with the actors to ensure the syntax felt primitive but functional. It makes the world feel ancient. It grounds the horror. When you hear a character scream in a language you don't know, but the terror is universal, it hits differently.
The cast who actually went there
Safia Oakley-Green is incredible. She won a British Independent Film Award for this role, and she deserved it. She has this way of looking both terrified and ready to bite someone's throat out.
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Chuku Modu brings a heavy, burdened energy to Adem. He’s a man trying to lead a group into a future that probably doesn't exist. Kit Young (who you might know from Shadow and Bone) plays Geirr, and he brings a frantic, nervous energy that contrasts perfectly with the stoic leadership of the others.
They all look dirty. Truly dirty. Not "Hollywood smudge" dirty, but "we haven't showered in three months and we live in a damp cave" dirty.
The twist that people keep debating
I won't give away the ending entirely, but the Out of the Darkness movie pulls a bit of a bait-and-switch. For the first two acts, you are convinced you’re watching a supernatural monster movie. It feels like Predator in the Stone Age.
But the final reveal turns the mirror back on the audience. It asks a very uncomfortable question: Who is the actual monster? Is it the thing in the woods, or is it the group of "civilized" people who are willing to do horrific things to stay alive?
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The ending has polarized some viewers. Some wanted a giant CGI beast. Others—the ones who like their horror with a side of existential dread—appreciated the more grounded, cynical conclusion. It suggests that human history isn't just a story of progress; it's a story of displacement and violence.
How to actually watch it and what to look for
The film is available on several VOD platforms like Apple TV and Amazon, and it’s had runs on various streaming services depending on your region.
If you decide to dive in, pay attention to the sound design. The rustling of the grass, the distant howls, and the silence of the tundra are more terrifying than any jump scare. It’s a movie that demands you wear headphones or turn the volume up.
Also, look at the lighting. They used a lot of natural light and firelight. It creates this claustrophobic feeling where the edges of the screen are just pure, impenetrable black. You really feel why these people were so obsessed with keeping their torches lit.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Movie Night
- Don't expect a monster mash: Go into this expecting a psychological survival thriller. It’s more The Revenant than Jurassic Park.
- Watch the subtitles: Don't try to multi-task. You'll miss the subtle shifts in the Tola language and the visual storytelling that explains the characters' hierarchy.
- Context is key: Remember that 45,000 years ago, there were other "human" species around, like Neanderthals. The movie plays with this historical reality in a way that is subtle but brilliant.
- Check the director: Keep an eye on Andrew Cumming. This was a massive debut, and his ability to build tension with almost no budget and a tiny cast is something special.
The Out of the Darkness movie is a rare breed. It’s a smart, mean, historical horror that doesn’t hold your hand. It’s about the terrifying realization that the world is big, cold, and doesn't care if you live or die.