Horror movies like Host, Unfriended, and The Den are some of my favorite supernatural films. Reliant on jump scares, dark shadows in the background, and set usually within the confines of a computer screen or live stream, the good ones are pretty effective. There is something about watching people film their scary misadventures that work. Knives and Skin director Jennifer Reeder’s “Night’s End” is another great story for those who like this kind of thing.
Night’s End made every single hair on my body stand up. It creeped me out. For those looking for their next Hell House LLC experience, this film will tick all those boxes too. The horror movie title written by Brett Neveau released to the Shudder streaming platform in most regions on March 31st, 2022.
Ken has a tainted past. Littered with alcoholism, his ex-wife has remarried and his children never see him. He spends his days in a darkened apartment that he recently moved into making a bunch of live videos about life hacks. In the wake of a nervous breakdown, Ken struggles with deciding whether he is in a state of flux or not. To alleviate his anxiety he often counts backward from ten. Most of his interactions with real people are via video chat.
Throughout the tensely structured storyline, Ken frequently talks to his friend, and his ex-wife while her new hubby is often seen loitering in the background. During one of these video chats, his friend Terry notices something fall off a shelf. The more they watch the video play, the more it becomes apparent, that something isn’t right.
Live Streamed Exorcisms Are On Trend
Night’s End takes its time building up a claustrophobic atmosphere. Ken is egged on by those who know him being excited about a real-life haunting. His ex-wife is “into” watching videos of supposed sightings. The fact that no one takes any of the spooky happenings seriously is what makes Ken’s experience all the more frightening. He starts having strange dreams. Things appear in his apartment and that scares him so much that he thinks he’s going mad.
On top of all that Ken hears screaming and begins having nosebleeds. What begins like other films that try to make you guess whether the key cast is simply losing their mind is quickly alleviated by physical evidence. Ken does some research about his current lodgings. He acquires books on spirits. And of course, he live streams much of what happens inside his apartment which in turn accumulates a horde of spectators watching him online.
With newfound internet fame, Ken agrees to rid his apartment of his apparition by appearing on a popular YouTube channel called Dark Corners. Joined by an odd priest and his friends online everything sets up for a climactic exorcism. Whether you enjoy the big reveal will impact your satisfaction level for Nights End overall.
Who’s Screaming Now?
The cinematography featured throughout Night’s End plays into much of what makes everything on the screen appear malicious at all times. Often what happens on screen is like everything in the scene is constantly glitching. At other times, there are tonnes of things to look out for in the background. The film is short with a run time of only 81 minutes so having this extreme build-up of so many horror elements all at once is like an assault on the senses.
Most of the reviews for Night’s End hated the ending. But like a pressure cooker about to blow, I thought the ending was extremely entertaining rather than a source of frustration. In addition, I liked that it gave the storyline some finality. If you liked this title watch The Wretched or Sator which are two other movies that will make the hairs on your arms stand up.
Night’s End is rated
4 yes, that’s my thumb, continue… out of 5
Night’s End Film Review
Night’s End is produced by Crow Island Films and distributed by Shudder. The film was acquired as a screener for review purposes. You can watch this movie for free with a subscription on the Shudder horror streaming platform from March 31st, 2022. For another point of view, try Walkden Entertainment which also reviewed Night’s End. Watch the spoiler-free trailer on YouTube from Mother of Movies.
Casting for Night’s End includes Geno Walker, Felonius Munk, Lawrence Grimm, and, Kate Arrington. Additionally, Daniel Kyri, Michael Shannon, and, Morgan S. Reesh also star.
