Film-maker Shyamalan wants opening of movie to be darkness (5)
I believe the answer is:
night
'to be darkness' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
(Other definitions for night that I've seen before include "'The 2 8 of the dog in the _____'" , "period of gloom" , "Thing (anag)" , "''Twas the ... before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse''" , "late" .)