Streaming has a way of re-introducing films, and it is not uncommon for a movie that was previously released to little fanfare to become a talking point when hitting a platform and becoming widely available. Looking at the trending or top section on almost any streaming service, you will likely see one or two older releases alongside exclusives and movies straight out of the theater.
One movie getting this recent treatment, thanks to the inclusion onMax, is Trey Edward Shults’It Comes at Night, a highly divisive film from A24 that was met with mixed reactions from fans when released in theaters in 2017. We will examine why the film was met with mixed reviews and whether its second life on Max warrants horror fans to check out the movie several years after its contentious theatrical release.
It Comes at Night Plot and Cast
It Comes at Night
It Comes at Nightfollows a family who has found security in a desolate home, escaping an unnatural threat terrorizing the rest of the world. Maintaining a strict order over his wife and son, Paul discovers that a new young family tests his morality as he takes them in, but it begins to strain the dynamic he built up so carefully. Asparanoia and mistrust grow, Paul begins to turn violent toward the new family, fearing they may be carrying the illness he was protecting against.
15 Actors Whose Best Performance Is in a Horror Movie
Considered the best in the industry, the following actors showed their talents in the best way in a horror film.
Trey Edward Shults, who at this point isan underrated filmmaker, directed the movie, withIt Comes at Nightbeing his second feature film, his debutKrishashowing early promise leading up to his A24 debut. Since the movie’s release in 2017, Shults has only completed one other film,Waves, in 2019, though he does have two projects in the works, including a yet-titled project with pop artist The Weeknd.
There was a consensus that the casting for the movie and performances were wonderfully executed. Joel Edgerton (The Gift,Boy Erased), who plays Paul, the patriarch of the isolated family, and Christopher Abbott (Possessor,James White), who plays the intruder (Will), both give career-defining performances. Rounding out the cast, Carmen Ejogo and Riley Keough are memorable as Paul and Will’s respective partners, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. shining as Paul’s son.
Why Is It Comes at Night Divisive?
Sitting at a score on Rotten Tomatoes of 88% fresh by critics and 44% audience score, one can instantly assess thatIt Comes at Nightis divisive mainly among viewers. The film’s theatrical run saw it gross 20 million worldwide and claim the 6th spot at the box office. While these numbers seem low, the modest budget of five million still marked the film as a success. Still, compared to the success of A24’s 2023 filmTalk to Me, whichearned 90 million at the box office,It Comes at Nightis far from the highest earner.
There are two primary reasons why the movie was met with mixed reception, both in the lead-up to and initial reactions, as well as the film’s content. Both of these also could have been avoided if approached differently.
It is important to bear in mind that A24, as a production company, was still building a reputation, with their first significant horror film that got people talking,The Witch, in 2015, also having a somewhat divided audience. While the label of A24 certainly intrigued many, the early hype for the movie came from Rotten Tomatoes’s critics' scores before its release, with many touting it as an exceptional entry into the horror genre.
Combining the early praise with the trailers leading up to the release,It Comes at Nightwas painted as a much more traditional horror story, leaving many audiences uncertain or upset and misled. The trailer certainly gives the impression of a shocking horror emphasizingpost-apocalyptic elementscentered around disease. While the story elements are not necessarily misleading, the actual delivery of the content is a far cry from the sensational promise made in the trailer.
It Comes at Night Is Full of Ambiguity, Slow Burn, and Intent
Many elements throughout the movie are left vague and open to interpretation; this includes certain twists often seen as faux pas, including the use of dream sequences (from which the trailer borrowed). With a disease raging across the world, what that sickness is, run-ins with infected, and how family members contracted the disease (or if they even have it) is left intentionally vague.
The movie’s pacing further divided audiences,with slow-burn horror filmsalways being a point of contention among the fandom. To some, an atmosphere with a few scares is welcome; to others, it is a tedious approach compared to the more jump-scare-heavy features. This has always been the case with examples like Ti West’s 2009 cult horror movieThe House of The Devil, sparking heavy debates online, ranging from calling it a masterpiece to pretentious drivel.
Most Atmospheric Horror Movies of All Time
Atmosphere can truly make a horror film, and these are the films with the most unsettling atmosphere that deliver some incredible scares.
The themes of the movie and its intent did not end up resting with ‘infectious horror’; instead,It Comes at Nightfocused on exploring the extremes people will go to when faced with disaster. The horror comes from the corruption of morals and paranoia brought on by one family invading another’s space, which is a fascinating approach if one is aware of the intent going in and not led to believe the movie is something else.
Should I Still Watch It Comes at Night?
It is easy to see why some audiences were taken aback byIt Comes at Nightwhen looking at the trailer and the hype but being given a different film than expected. The work aligns with many other divisive horror films in structure and delivery; imagine being told a Nicolas Winding Refn film was a non-stop thrill ride only to be met with the atmospheric pacing ofDrive.
However, those who know what they like in horror and enjoy elements like a slow burn, atmosphere, and open interpretations will likely vibe with the film that Trey Edward Shults has constructed. It’s arguably one of thebest A24 horror filmsand pairs nicely with movies likeTheWitch,Saint Maud,Black Coats Daughter, andThe Hole in the Ground. If any of those movies appealed to you, don’t hesitate to check outIt Comes at Night, which is currently streaming on Max.
