How Dark My Love (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2025 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Joe Coleman and his art have long been questioned. Coleman has spent his career painting portraits of serial killers and outlaws, those that frequently exist on the wrong side of the law. How Dark My Love follows Coleman as he intends to create his most daring piece to date–a portrait of his wife, Whitney Ward. 

Films such as How Dark My Love can be incredibly vexing–as it glorifies a figure that has a questionable past. Sure, people can change, and second chances can certainly be earned–but it’s hard for me to wrap my head around the idea of presenting Coleman in a favorable light, or allowing him the opportunity to present his story with a sense of humor. With all of that said, there are aspects of this film that are inherently entertaining, that appeal to human nature and allow viewers to appreciate the production itself. 

Some of the stories Coleman tells throughout this film are simply insane, stories that are nearly impossible to imagine being real. However, the fashion in which they are told, often with wild nonchalance, allow viewers to accept these stories as reality. There were moments in How Dark My Love where my jaw literally dropped, where I found its content to be so shocking that I couldn’t help but feel something visceral–even if that response was something akin to judgement. I feel that How Dark My Love will force viewers to feel a spectrum of emotions, almost like a sliding scale in which you never know which direction it will head next. 

Furthermore, it’s important to be able to separate the art from the artist while consuming How Dark My Love. Coleman is an incredibly talented artist, capable of creating masterpieces that captivate audiences in a cathartic and inspiring way. The way in which this documentary showcases his artistic talents is impeccable, creating something of a narrative in the journey toward completing the portrait of his wife. While that aspect of the film often takes a backseat, it’s repeatedly touched upon in order to keep the film as grounded as possible–acting almost as a homebase for emotion and the film as a whole. 

While I struggled greatly with the person that Coleman is, it’s still important to note his ability and the reality that How Dark My Love is an incredibly entertaining film. It includes outlandish stories, impeccable art, and the film itself is well structured and paced. Some viewers will certainly take issue with Coleman being the focus of a feature-length documentary (of him being presented in the spotlight at all really), but How Dark My Love is enjoyable nonetheless. 

Written & Directed by Scott Gracheff. 

Starring Joe Coleman, Whitney Ward, etc. 

7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE