"Against the Night," the 2017 horror film directed by Brian Cavallaro, attempts to tap into the well-worn trope of a group of young people exploring a purportedly haunted abandoned location. In this instance, it's a former prison, a setting ripe with potential for psychological tension and jump scares. The premise sees a filmmaker, Hank, gather a group of friends to shoot a fake ghost-hunting documentary for a cash prize. However, their lighthearted expedition soon devolves into a desperate fight for survival as they realize they are not alone, and something - or someone - is hunting them.
The film grapples with themes of trust, paranoia, and the blurring lines between reality and fabrication. As the group dwindles, accusations fly, and the friends turn on each other, questioning whether the threat is supernatural or a malevolent presence among them. This internal conflict, coupled with the claustrophobic setting of the prison, is where "Against the Night" attempts to find its footing. The abandoned prison itself is perhaps the strongest character in the film, its decaying walls and labyrinthine corridors providing a genuinely eerie backdrop. The production team clearly leveraged the location to its fullest, utilizing practical lighting and the natural shadows to create an unsettling atmosphere.
However, despite these promising elements, "Against the Night" largely falters in its execution. A significant criticism leveled against the film is its underdeveloped characters. The large ensemble cast means that few, if any, of the individuals are given enough depth for the audience to truly care about their fates. They often embody horror archetypes without transcending them, leading to a sense of detachment as they are picked off one by one. The dialogue, too, has been noted as uninspired, failing to add nuance or believability to their interactions.
Furthermore, the film struggles with narrative coherence and pacing. While the initial setup is clear, the plot quickly becomes convoluted, with red herrings and twists that don't always land effectively. The blend of "found footage" and traditional cinematography is often haphazard, leading to disorienting camera work that can detract from the scares rather than enhance them. The film's attempts at jump scares and gore are frequently undermined by off-screen kills or a lack of impactful practical effects, leaving much to the imagination in a way that feels more like a budgetary constraint than a deliberate artistic choice.
The ending, in particular, has been a point of contention among viewers and critics. Designed to be a shocking reveal, it often comes across as more confusing or nonsensical than genuinely surprising, leaving many questions unanswered and failing to provide a satisfying resolution to the mounting tension.
In conclusion, "Against the Night" benefits from a strong central location and a premise that holds initial promise for a psychological horror experience. It tries to explore themes of betrayal and the horrors that can emerge from within a group, even when faced with an external threat. However, its ambitions are often undercut by underdeveloped characters, an inconsistent narrative, and execution issues that prevent it from fully capitalizing on its atmospheric potential. While it might offer some fleeting moments of creepiness, ultimately, "Against the Night" struggles to leave a lasting impression, settling instead into the crowded realm of forgettable low-budget horror flicks that promise more than they deliver.
