Review of “The Ark and the Darkness”: A Critical Perspective

Welcome back to the blog. It has been a while since my last post. I recently reacted on YouTube to “The Ark and the Darkness,” a film I watched during its special two-day event at my local theater. Here, I’ll briefly summarize my experience with the film, which promoted itself as a portrayal of Noah’s Ark and the evidence supporting what I refer to as the 20th-century traditional perspective on the biblical narrative.

“The Ark and the Darkness” is not a straightforward movie; rather, it’s a documentary that intertwines scientific evidence in support of a particular narrative of the Noahic account (what I expected) with a dispensational eschatological interpretation of the Flood and our present age (what I didn’t expect). Produced with contributions from both crowdfunding and, presumably, other financial backers, the film has been in development for a considerable time, with contributions from expert scholars from Answers in Genesis and Liberty University.

At its core, “The Ark and the Darkness” merges a particular interpretation of origins, redemptive history, and eschatology with an exploration of evidence supporting a global flood. It aims to convince its audience of the historicity of Noah’s flood and thus the imminence of the fast-approaching end times, which will be akin to the times prior to the Noahic Flood. This shift toward end-times prophecy not only feels disjointed but also fills the film with a speculative air, diverting attention from the supposed historical and scientific examination of Noah’s Ark, which receives much less attention during the 2-hour runtime than one might expect upon entering the theater. I found the attempt to link contemporary societal and environmental issues with biblical prophecies seems more an exercise in fear-mongering than a genuine effort to engage with the complexities of faith and interpretation.

The film confidently presents its arguments, often without acknowledging the existence of differing viewpoints within the young Earth creationist community itself, let alone the broader scientific community. This lack of nuance and the film’s heavy reliance on a specific interpretation of eschatology will not resonate with a broad audience including Christians such as myself from a different theological tradition. However, there is no intent to resonate with all viewers; it is meant–in large part–as comfort food for believers and to bolster their confidence in what the producers perceive as an increasingly hostile world.

This was my observation as I showed up early to observe those attending. The audience that night was predominantly older, with many expressing excitement and anticipation for the film’s message. This enthusiasm was reflected in the reactions throughout the screening, with frequent expressions of amazement at the presented “evidence” and a strong sense of validation for their pre-existing beliefs, culminating in a rousing round of clapping and a few hallelujahs at the ending credits.

In the end, “The Ark and the Darkness” represents a missed opportunity, given its platform in theaters nationwide. Although I never expected the film to be anything other than a propaganda piece for young-age creationism, it is disheartening to see that what is presented to the public by the Christian community, rather than opening a space for reflection and discussion, is a highly didactic presentation that prioritizes conviction and conspiracy over curiosity. What unfolds is less an insightful exploration and more a heavy-handed attempt to affirm a young-age creationist viewpoint, sidelining critical analysis and scientific rigor in favor of a narratively convenient conclusion.

PS. I have not critiqued any of the particular pieces of evidences presented in the documentary.  I intend to take a look at those specific claims in a forthcoming video on my YouTube channel.