From Iranian-American filmmaker Kourosh Ahari, who co-wrote the script with Milad Jarmooz, The Night follows an Iranian couple in LA, Babak (Shahab Hosseini) and Neda Naderi (Niousha Noor), who have just finished spending an evening with their friends, and make their way home along with their baby Shabnam. Circumstances lead them to spend the night at a hotel, but as the night goes on, strange things begin happening, from sounds outside the room to glimpses of apparitions. The forces that be proceed to trap the couple inside the hotel, forcing them to face the secrets they have kept from their past.
The film is notable for being the first U.S. production approved for commercial exhibition in Iran since their revolution in 1979, but on top of that importance, it’s also a really good horror film. Any horror film set at a hotel owes The Shining to some degree, and what Ahari does well in evoking that sense is creating a relentlessly creepy atmosphere that is drenched in dread and uneasiness. Along with that, the horror is reflected in the way the film plays with the psychology of the characters, which escalates in ways that are often surprising and terrifying.
The craft on display is really impressive. The scares are very well staged, and do a great job at keeping you on your toes. The actual ideas behind them are not the most inventive – a creepy kid here, a creepy girl there, the imagery is familiar, but the filmmaking makes the most out of the maze-like hallways and dimly-lit rooms around our characters. The use of sound also brings some unexpected moments that raises the hair in the back of your neck. The design behind the sets and locations are so unwelcoming and uneasy, it all really adds to the experience.
Hosseini initially carries most of the load, and he carries the film incredibly well, which isn’t a surprise for anyone who has seen him in some of Asghar Farhadi’s films. And Noor, who hasn’t been in many films compared to her co-star, manages to hold her own really well, especially when she gets more involved in the second half when her character becomes more than just the concerned wife. Supporting players are few and far between, but the ones there make a strong impression. George Maguire makes for a delightfully bizarre hotel receptionist, Michael Graham gets a memorable scene as a police officer, and Elester Latham has a eerie presence as this strange homeless man.
The film isn’t without its faults, I do have some gripes, some more significant than others. The ending is striking but frustrating, some of the more ambiguous elements don’t quite land. However, the biggest thing that bothered me was part of the payoff. I don’t want to spoil it, but I’ll just say that the situation the couple find themselves in can only be resolved by coming to terms with something from their past. The problem is that the situation with Neda is nowhere near the same level as Babak, and it wouldn’t take much stretching to call the reveal misogynist. It’s the only bad move in an otherwise enjoyable film.
As long as its somewhat concerning payoff is something you’re willing to overlook, The Night proves to be a really strong horror film, and one that sets the bar pretty high for every horror film that comes out this year. It does deal with some familiar ideas, but it’s all in the execution, and the execution is really well done. The performances from Shahab Hosseini and Niousha Noor are rock solid, both delivering a subtle and believable dynamic that grounds the supernatural antics of the hotel in something human and real. And as much as the final act stumbles in a couple elements, I can’t help but admire how much the film had me in its grasp. I spent so much of it incredibly stressed and anxious, and it makes me excited to see what Kourosh Ahari has in store in the future. Don’t let the fact that it’s a Farsi language film deter you, it’s a good watch, and sure to give you the creeps.
The Night is now out in select theaters and VOD platforms.