The Night Review Traps You Deep Inside A Haunted Hotel

Those in internet-land call out “The Shining” over and over again when talking about Kourosh Ahari’s directorial film debut, “The Night.” A haunted hotel with no way out once you check in. It’s the same thing as The Shining. They might be right for the basics but not all haunted hotel horror movies are the same. The Hotel Normandie might have a few things in common with the Overlook Hotel.

The two accommodations might even influence their guests in one way or another, but the similar setting doesn’t make them the same. And besides, The Night is a great example of doing lots of things right. It’s especially noteworthy to add that this is an Iranian filmmaker with US production and acquired distribution in Iran. Something that hasn’t been done in 40 years.

The Night Release Details and Trailer 2021

IFC Midnight released this supernatural thriller movie to the masses on the 29th of January 2021. It will play in select theatres as well as on digital platforms and VOD. For the most part, The Night is predominantly a Farsi-language film with a few lines of English inserted into the narrative. The story follows a group of friends enjoying a dinner party and drinks. In particular, Neda and her husband Babek hold a mild amount of discourse towards each other.

It all begins with a married couple at a dinner party with friends. They have their infant daughter in tow but the dynamic between them is heavy in spirit. As they leave, Babek is drunk but insists on driving the vehicle regardless. The story is immediately splattered with a misogynistic essence and it’s a little stifling. They drive and drive and before long my nerves are a wreck. As a mother, I fret for the baby. A drunk man is driving, they’re lost and if it’s been hours I wonder why she isn’t screaming by now. Babek explains the navigator is on the fritz, he is tired and tut-tut’s at his wife’s criticism.

Haunted Hotel Movies

As they pull into the Hotel Normandie rather than return to their friend’s house or continue the drive, everything is ominous. A muttering token drunk is out the front, the receptionist is an odd character and it’s far too quiet even at this time of the night. But these weary travelers must sleep.

Ahari pulls out all the stops creating an eerie and specter-filled evening. “The Night” film flourishes with promises of a big reveal containing hidden secrets between spouses. Both begin to see things that are there one minute and gone the next. They are trapped inside a hotel full of their sins. A guessing game for the viewer ensues as to what that might be.

Shahab Hosseini and Niousha Jafarian Are Excellent

Performances from the two leads are amazing despite my feelings towards Babek as a character. Shahab Hosseini and Niousha Jafarian are real and convincing. The cinematography is rich and deep in every way and it’s safe to say that for 90% of this psychologically tantric film, I was heavily invested. I have to admit, it took me a while to gather my thoughts regarding The Night. I had a bit of trouble with Neda’s bombshell. Without spoiling it, I just didn’t like the topical inclusion of painting her sin as a sin. Surely in this instance, there is a cultural divide but not something I want in my horror movies in 2021.

The Night movie is rated

3 the sins of the father aren’t equal to the mothers out of 5

The Night Trailer 2021 Traps You In A Haunted Hotel

• Written by Milad Jarmooz and Kourosh Ahari
• The Night 2021 was acquired as a screener for review purposes by Mother of Movies.
• Directed by Kourosh Ahari
• Distributed by IFC Midnight and produced by Mammoth Pictures

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