Following a successful television adaptation of his same-titled podcast series, Homecoming, Eli Horowitz makes his feature directing debut with Gone in the Night from Vertical Entertainment.
Upon arriving at a remote cabin in the redwoods, Kath (Winona Ryder) and her boyfriend (John Gallagher Jr.) find a mysterious young couple (Owen Teague and Brianne Tju) already there. The rental has been double-booked. With nowhere else to go, they decide to share the cabin with these strangers. When her boyfriend mysteriously disappears with the young woman, Kath becomes obsessed and enlists an unlikely supporter (Dermot Mulroney) to find an explanation for their sudden breakup, but the truth is far stranger than she could have ever imagined.
The film’s opening introduces the oppressively mismatched couple driving deep into the forestland for a weekend flight. We have all heard that” contraries attract,” but Kath and Max( John Gallagher Jr) have been together for a time, and not only do they’ve contrary life pretensions, but the two can also slightly hold a discussion. It’s not just awkward; it makes no sense that these two could have co-existed for so long.
From the opening, I had no idea where Gone in the Night would go, so I must give viewers the head up that the film is a slow burn and has the vibe of a play. However, I will say that the less you know about the movie better. However, I will reveal that the film has a non-linear approach to storytelling and constantly feeds clues to the viewer while going between storylines. Ryder steers the ship as a seasoned pro, and she has electric chemistry with Dermot Mulroney.
Gone in the Night may have started with a typical premise, but it takes a different route, cleverly playing with audiences’ anticipation. At its core, the film is a decent cross-genre mashup with standout performances.
Final Grade: C+
Gone in the Night opens in limited release this Friday, July 15th.
Iraq War Veteran Ray Mendoza reunites with director Alex Garland for another war film, Warfare, from A24. Mendoza and Garland also co-wrote the movie based on Mendoza’s experiences during the Iraq War as a former U.S. Navy SEAL. Set in 2006 and shot in real-time, Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs on a mission through the insurgent territory.
Director Tracie Laymon examines the significance of friendship in her latest film, Bob Trevino Likes It, produced by Roadside Attractions. Laymon also authored the screenplay, which draws inspiration from a genuine friendship she cultivated with a stranger while conducting an online search for her father.
Director Alex Scharfman delivers a unique film for his debut in Death of a Unicorn from A24. Elliot (Paul Ridd) is a lawyer headed to a weekend retreat looking to close a big deal for his billionaire bosses Odell (Richard E. Grant) and Belinda (Téa Leoni). Along for the ride is his college-aged daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega), with whom he’s looking to reconnect following the death of their matriarch and before she leaves for college.