"It Comes At Night" Review by Tim Hellman

'IT COMES AT NIGHT': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A psychological horror flick written and directed by sophomore feature filmmaker Trey Edward Shults. It's set in a future world, where an unexplained illness has wiped out a large percentage of the population (and made everyone else paranoid of each other). A family that's survived in isolation, in a secure locked up house, invites another family seeking help to stay with them (despite the severe mistrust they have for them). It stars Joel Edgerton, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Carmen Ejogo, Christopher Abbot, Riley Keough and Griffin Robert Faulkner. The film had it's world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival (in Mount Hood, Oregon), and it's received mostly rave reviews from critics. It's also been a successful hit at the Box Office so far. I found it to be a very effectively made thriller as well.

Paul (Edgerton) has established a very strict set of rules to keep him and his family safe (in a horrendous, not too distant future world). When a man, Will (Abbot), comes to his home looking for help, he's very quick not to trust him. Then, after the man explains that his wife and child are also in desperate need of help, Paul reluctantly decides to let Will's family come stay with his. Paranoia and mistrust for each other soon tears their uneasy relationship apart though.

Once again, man is much more dangerous than any plague or monster; that's the basic theme of this horror movie. It's got a few moments of hope, and compassion, but ultimately it's a very disturbing and depressing film. Multiple people walked out of the showing I saw of it, before it was over, and several others vocally expressed their discuss with it when it concluded. I think it's a very well made and effective psychological horror flick though. It's obviously not for everyone, but if you love quality film, especially great horror, you should enjoy it.