It Comes at Night (2017)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  10 / 10

  It Comes At Night is moody, atmospheric, tense...and one of the best of 2017. The film ended and someone shouted "that was the worst film I've seen!" and I tried my hardest not to say anything back to the stupid woman. In an age of remakes, sequels and franchises it completely irritates me when people can't appreciate good cinema just because it's ambiguous and isn't constantly spoon feeding you everything. This was absolutely outstanding. Right from the starting scene, which has enough horrible imagery for any other film, I was transfixed. My eyes did not leave that screen. This thematic piece of cinema is extremely subtle, it's ambiguous and contains hardly any exposition. The themes of the afterlife, family and death in itself are well explored; I could analyse this all day! The plot of a family surviving a global pandemic of some sort, is fuelled on paranoia. The constant shift in the narrative from being able to trust someone to then completely reverse and grow suspicious of them, it's so realistic! We hold on to every word that these characters say because of how crucial one lie consequently could result in life or death. Again, subtle performances all round where Joel Edgerton yet again shines and plays the most cautious father ever. Very precocious yet is able to convey a loving sentiment beneath the emotionless exterior. He has that authority, if he says "don't go outside" my God listen to the man and don't go outside! But then are his motives always clear? That's the beauty of the narrative! Incredibly directed as well, the camera constantly moves at a slow pace to create the tension. The lighting is appropriately atmospheric, particularly as the son wanders around the house holding a lantern. His dream sequences are also unnerving, some seriously creepy imagery. Some may say this is too slow, but it's intentional in order to create the dark mood and for our characters to be fleshed out. It was just hypnotising cinema and, I have no doubt, it deserves the second perfect rating of the year.

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