This Nightlight Could Be Turned Off: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: an online screener of this film was provided by Lionsgate.

Directors/writers: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

Cast: Shelby Young, Chloe Bridges, Carter Jenkins, Mitch Hewer, Taylor Murphy and Kyle Fain.

Nightlight is a micro-budget horror feature from Herrick Entertainment. Shot in Salt Lake City, Utah, the film focuses on several friends and a night game of hide-and-go-seek, with spirits! The story also focuses on the loss of Ethan (Kyle Fain), a depressed, young man. He is shown only in the first few and final few frames. The rest of the film is chock full of chase sequences, dark settings and very little conflict. Even the horror tone of the film slips into thriller territory, with a tale of revenge finally emerging near the end of the picture. Nightlight is an indie film from an up-and-coming group of filmmakers, which is too short on story and full of fluff filled chases through the underbrush.

The film mostly stays with the character Robin (Shelby Young). She is lured into the local woods, with the promise of an appearance from her love interest, Ben (Mitch Hewer). Ben is there and so are the characters: Nia (Chloe Bridges), Chris (Carter Jenkins) and Amelia (Taylor Murphy). Together, they play chicken with trains, run through the forest and play with flashlights. Many of the sequences feel juvenile. Then, characters begin to disappear and a ghost brings Robin into an isolated cave. This supernatural treasure hunt begins to pick up in the final sequences, with Robin realizing that her dead friend Ethan has a message to deliver, from the otherworld. That conversation involves more bloodshed, than chatter. But, by this time, many of the opportunities for scares or surprises have been lost.

Shelby Young plays Robin, the Guilted One.

This viewer enjoyed Scott Beck and Bryan Woods' use of exterior settings and space. Almost the entire film is shot outside. The forest offers shadowy figures and strange, flickering lights. The interior shooting mostly involves a cursed church, or the aforementioned cave. Bats fly at Robin, or a desiccated character emerges from the woodwork. The use of creepy settings is consistent. These settings help amplify the horror mood. But, settings cannot create an exciting horror film, alone.

Much of the film's energy is lost in its central conflict. There are few minor conflicts here, outside of romantic competition. So, the film focuses on one central conflict, involving Ethan and Robin. One character is supernatural and the other is mortal. Somehow, they communicate inaudibly to each other. But, any physical confrontations between these two characters and others are minimized. The demon Ethan is able to possess the other characters. As well, many sheer cliff sides dot the landscape. One of the better uses of Ethan's powers includes his ability to push others off the mountain. More sequences like this one could have been used to amplify the terror. As it is, Ethan mostly walks down dark paths or thumps up stairs. The main conflict is in need of more direct interactions.

The horrifying tone of the film falters through the film's runtime. Horror elements emerge early with the use of darkness. There are no well lighted scenes to speak of. In the darkness, a shape appears and disappears. Or, a large set piece falls amongst the characters. But, the intensity of these sequences is not maintained. There are few jump scares. And, the boredom increases with the repetitive use of chase sequences. At some point, the protagonist must face what is in the dark. This meeting takes too long to take place. Perhaps, the horrifying tone could have been amplified with the use of chilling music or sound. The use of off screen sound often creates more terror, than what is shown onscreen. As it is, Nightlight offers very little horror and very little terror.

Nightlight will release on several formats on March 27th, via Lionsgate; other indie horror fans might find this film more entertaining, than this viewer. But, from this viewer's perspective, the horror elements are contrived, characters are mostly flat and conflicts are undeveloped. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods brought an excellent visual style to the film. However, their storytelling techniques could be improved with the inclusion of deeper characterizations, side-plots and more minor conflicts. As it is, Nightlight offers few scares, very little mystery and not enough tension. Most film fans will find this outing only partially meeting its full horrifying and body possessing potential.

Overall: 6.5 out of 10 (even the protagonist is only slightly developed through a couple of short monologues and self-dialogues, minor characters are almost unimportant, settings are consistently dreary and dark, music and sound are underutilized).

A trailer for the film is hosted here, on 28DLA:

A Nightlight Trailer on 28DLA


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Posted in: 2015,horror,horror movie review,independent,indie,lionsgate,lionsgate home entertainment,movie,movie review,review,supernatural,supernatural movie review