There has always been talk of what would happen if the world comes to an end of if society was to break down in both documentary and narrative form. There have also been reality shows like “Doomsday Preppers” that deal with this, so I bet most people have wondered at least once in their life of what would happen if it was to go to nuts out there.
“It Comes at Night” is the new film directed by Trey Edwards Shults (Krisha, Two on One) with Joel Edgerton (Black Mass, Warrior), Christopher Abbott (A Most Violent Year, James White), Carmen Ejogo (Alien: Covenant, Selma), Riley Keough (The Runaways, Mad Max: Fury Road), Kelvin Harrison, Jr. (The Birth of a Nation, Underground), and Griffin Robert Faulkner (Pickup, Law & Order). The film pens with Paul (Edgerton), who lives with his wife, Sarah (Ejogo), and his son Travis (Harrison Jr) in a secluded house in the woods after a plague that hit the planet where they have their house set up in a doomsday situation. One day, Will (Abbott) shows up at Paul’s house along with his wife, Kim (Keough) and their young son, Andrew (Faulkner). Paul decides to let them due to the fact that they have supplies as well as the concept of safety in numbers. What follows is a story of the possibility of people in the house getting infected and what it takes to survive.
The film basically only takes place in the secluded house in the woods, but is shot very well with great scenes of nature and great angles of the house. The fact that the use of the house with no electricity really enhanced the creepy vibe of the film along with the day shots outside where it was mostly cloud. When it comes to the acting, it is basically just six people listed above. If there is a lead actor, it would have to be Harrison, Jr., but this could also be seen as an ensemble film. Edgerton does well as the leader of the family, showing some compassion but doing what it takes to protect the family. Ejogo does well as the caring mother, and Harrison, Jr. does well as a 17-year-old kid dealing with more emotions than most.
“It Comes at Night” is little over ninety minutes, and it flew by for me. It is really dark in nature, but very suspenseful yet not a horror film, which I thought it was going to be and is done right. If I had any complaints, it would be that there were many dream sequences with Travis, and when I look back, there are certain parts of the film that I thought really happens but it may or may not have been a dream of Travis. It does end abruptly, but the last couple scenes had me thinking that there may have been two or even three possible endings. With all of this in mind, I really did enjoy this film. This may not be for everyone due to the violence and dark subject matter, but I will definitely recommend it as twilight to a full price in the theaters.