Directed by Marc Singer Language: English Publisher: Oscilloscope 2011
For years, a hidden community of unhoused people lived in a disused train tunnel beneath New York City — braving perpetual darkness, dangerous conditions, and the neglect of the world above. Dark Days offers a rare and intimate glimpse into this underground existence, where makeshift homes and shared resilience shaped a life unimaginable to most.
Shot in haunting black and white with a crew made up of the tunnel’s own inhabitants, and scored by legendary turntablist DJ Shadow, Dark Days is more than a documentary — it’s a testament to survival, solidarity, and the human spirit on the margins.
Both heartbreaking and darkly humorous, the film lets its subjects speak for themselves: revealing the personal stories, daily struggles, and fierce dignity of those who made a home beneath the city.
Bonus Features include:
The Making of Dark Days – Interviews with Marc Singer, DJ Shadow, and others
Audio commentary with director Marc Singer
The Tunnel Today – A 2011 revisit by Singer
Fragile Dwelling – A new photo essay by Margaret Morton
Dark Days Design – A look at the typography with Jay Hillyer
Life After the Tunnel – Updates on the film’s protagonists
Introduction by former NYC Mayor David Dinkins
2011 Q&A with Singer and Mary E. Brosnahan (Coalition for the Homeless)
Deleted scenes with director’s notes
Original theatrical trailer
A landmark film of underground cinema — both literally and figuratively — Dark Days remains a powerful document of life in the shadows, still echoing with urgency and compassion.
