Fans all say the same thing about Charlize Theron Netflix thriller about to be axed

With a meagre 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's hardly shocking that Netflix is dropping the contentious thriller Dark Places.

The film, which draws from Gillian Flynn's acclaimed 2009 novel, features Oscar-winner Charlize Theron and stars Nicholas Hoult and Chloe Grace Moretz. Despite its stellar cast, the consensus among viewers can be summed up in one word: "disappointing".

One critic said: "Big stars, but ultimately a big disappointment. My only complaint is that the story just fails to convince me...the entire duration of the film."

Echoing this sentiment, another viewer expressed: "Was so disappointing compared to the book. It seemed to lose all the tension built through the book."

Dark Places attempted to emulate the success of Flynn's earlier hit Gone Girl, which was adapted into a film starring Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, and Emily Ratajkowski in 2014, earning global acclaim and satisfying fans of the cult favourite, reports Surrey Live.

This less celebrated mystery flick unravels the tale of Libby Day, who at the tender age of seven witnessed the murder of her mother and two sisters. In a state of confusion, young Libby accused her brother, then 16, leading to his life imprisonment.

Twenty-five years after a harrowing family tragedy, Libby Day remains haunted by her past and agrees to attend a true-crime convention for payment.

There, she discovers that many believe in her brother's innocence, propelling her on a quest for the truth through the shadows of her life.

One viewer said: "Dark Places, although a decent story worth reading, didn't make such a successful transition to the big screen.

"I felt that the casting choices were way off, none more so than Charlize Theron as Libby Day. The only person I felt was a good fit was Nicholas Hoult as Lyle.

"Those in the story who were placed there to be a threatening menace just didn't come across as such. It wasn't a terrible film, but with the right cast it could have been a really decent thriller."

Contrastingly, another viewer offered a different perspective, seemingly at odds with the generally negative consensus: They wrote: "I know it got a low score, but I thought it was a gripping story.

"If you're into the show Dateline, this is right up your alley. I was actually shocked at the low score on Rotten Tomatoes. Definitely a dark movie but extremely realistic. It was a little all over the place but sets up for a gripping ending."

If you're intrigued to see what all the negative reviews are about, you can watch Dark Times on Netflix before it vanishes from the streaming platform on June 5.