Review: It Comes at Night



(imdb.com)

Every year, a handful of artfully made horror films seep into the mainstream. Last year, The Witch stunned audiences with its hyper-stylized visuals and dark, brooding plot. This year, honors go to It Comes at Night. Perhaps not as sensationalized as The Witch, and maybe not as impressive, It Comes at Night is still a worthy foray into the stylized subgenre. Equal parts scary as it is compellingly human, It Comes at Night is a post-apocalyptic nightmare following a small family battling an unknown virus. Their lives change though when a man attempting to break into their home then moves in with his family. Playing off social dynamics, familial ties and a coming-of-age story, It Comes at Night feels far more relatable than any horror film should.

The film stars Joel Edgerton (Warrior) as Paul, the patriarchal father to the near-silent Travis, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. (The Birth of a Nation), and husband to the strong-willed Sarah, played by Carmen Ejogo (Selma). It Comes at Night also features Christopher Abbot (Girls) and Riley Keough (American Honey) as Will and Kim, the young parents and newest members of the isolated homestead. Each cast member does spectacularly well conveying their respective roles. Abbott and Keough in particular are stellar as youthful and committed parents, while Edgerton and Ejogo feel well-versed and mature as determined survivors doing particularly well in the face of isolation and death.  

It Comes at Night beams with plenty of scares and atmospheric tension, all culminating into a surprisingly effective and thrilling ride. Throughout the film, dream sequences helmed by Travis will fill viewers with dread as jump scare feel all too imminent; even if they end up being terrifically unpredictable. But, these scenes aren't the only moments of fear; audiences can expect plenty of moments with shots of darkness and empty doorways. Other moments - particularly one scene where the family's dog, Stanley, runs off into the forest, feel completely terrifying, even though it takes place in perfect daylight.

This film is an unrelenting and grounded journey of love and loss. Throughout the movie, viewers will feel a part of this cobbled family of diverse characters all attempting to work together for a common goal of survival. When gut-wrenching happens, it comes at full force, without much warning and with plenty of intensity. Scene after scene only drives the characters deeper into the heart of the viewer and even when questions of lies and deceit come about, you can't help but feel for their struggles. This is a group of high moral standards and good people, a complete transition from typical horror tropes of victims getting what they deserve. 

It Comes at Night is splendidly crafted. It's the type of movie that should win over nearly any audience through its perfectly balanced amount of horror and drama.  Each scene culminates toward a polished and desolate ending. With a truly great cast, fully fledged characters and scares, this film feels wholly fresh. In the wake of films like Rings and The Bye Bye Man, It Comes at Night is a welcomed reminder of good horror, most closely relatable to the stellar entries of 2016. Audiences and fans alike should be thankful for this movie because so far, the prospects of cinematic horror this year have been relatively dim. 8 out of 10.