Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, a man has established a tenuous domestic order with his wife and son, but this will soon put to test when a desperate young family arrives seeking refuge.
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Directed and written by: Trey Edward Shults
“It Comes At Night” opens with a family in the middle of an apocalyptic world. Unfortunately Bud (David Pendleton), Sarah’s (Carmen Ejogo) father and Travis’ (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) grandfather, has fallen ill. Paul (Joel Edgerton), the head of this family, has to make a tough decision, and ends Bud’s life for the safety of the others. The scene gives the audience a quick look at the new world the family lives in, and the possibilities of what’s to come.
As the story starts to unfold, it will soon become evident that this is a slow moving film. Yes, it has a few creepy moments mostly courtesy of Travis’ nightmares. Then there’s a few more intense scenes like when Will (Christopher Abbott) tries to break into the family’s home. He claims that he didn’t know anyone lived there, and is just looking for food and supplies for his wife and child. After a family discussion, Paul decides to allow Will and his family to stay with them.
So why is it a slow moving film…because it’s very character driven. Paul is the strict leader of the family, who sets rules to ensure their safety. Sarah is a loving mother to her son, and always right at her husband’s side. Now Travis is a little bit of an odd teenage boy, which may simply be because of his new found way of life. He’s kind of quiet, plagued with nightmares, and no one can blame him for developing a crush on Will’s wife. Will and his wife seem normal, and are just looking to survive like Paul’s family. Of course when you put two families together who protect their own interests first, something will go wrong.
The real problem for this movie is that it leaves too many unanswered questions. From the beginning, the audience is thrown in the middle of this family’s life. There is no mention of how long the world has been turned upside down, or the cause of it. There’s a sickness, but the audience is left to assume how they get sick and what happens to them when they get sick. Do you become a zombie, or what? The most frustrating moments are when they act like there’s something out in the woods, but is there? Most importantly, what ultimately is “it,” and did “it” ever come at night?
Don’t be mistaken, even with all those questions, “It Comes At Night” is still a well done movie. The times at night in the house are very dark, and intense. The few nightmares that Travis has are creepy, and even can be disgusting. With a character driven story, it’s important that the acting is good, and it’s definitely solid all around. It’s alright to leave a couple of questions unanswered, however this one leaves a few too many. With that, and the slow pace, I can’t give this movie more than 2 pools of blood.
HorrO
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