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Review: “NIGHTLIGHT” Shines With Style

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There have been plenty of horror movies that have taken place in the woods over the last several decades, from The Evil Dead to The Blair Witch Project. Put the two together and you might have something like NIGHTLIGHT (Lionsgate and Herrick Entertainment). Part demon infested forest thriller and part first-person POV narrative, NIGHTLIGHT comes to us from writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (Spread, Impulse).

[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/M-aOvb4lzuY”]

The brilliance of this film lies in its cinematography and special effects. Shot entirely in the woods and lit by only the single beam of the main character’s flashlight, one wonders how the film manages to capture the details and subtleties of the action and suspense. One might also think that by using only a single light source the film would hide behind the shadows, but NIGHTLIGHT manages to expose full details of the cracks and crags of oak trees and chapped rock respectively.

However, this attention to detail is not so apparent in its characters. The story follows young Robin (Shelby Young) as she is invited to hang out with “the cool kids” for a night of teenage rebellion in the woods. The group, initiating the morose Robin into their clique puts her through some rigorous hazing, and she is willing to go along with it to get closer to her crush Ben (Mitch Hewer). Besides having to traverse the legendary haunted forest, the games include playing chicken with a locomotive, and a unique game of hide-and-seek that requires only a blindfold and a flashlight.

But what the group doesn’t know is that Robin, for reasons later explained in the film, is suffering from tremendous guilt over the death of her close friend Ethan (Kyle Fain). The only way to appease that guilt is to venerate a flashlight he left behind and use it on this night of mean-spirited peer bonding. The story is intriguing, unfortunately it is up to the demons of the forest to keep it that way.

 

Better get extra batteries (courtesy Lionsgate)

The film is shot entirely through the scope of Ethan’s flashlight beam, which again is surprisingly not a detriment to the movie. Robin uses his lamp as a charm, hoping the spirit of Ethan will protect her from the evils of woods. But, the woods are notoriously cursed, and for years it has lured teenagers into its depths where they leap from “Covington Crest”, committing suicide; it seems nothing can save her.

NIGHTLIGHT feels like the slick and glossy Dimension movies from the 90’s. A group of good-looking teenagers, each with distinctive personalities are thrown together into a terrifying situation and try to survive. NIGHTLIGHT gives us 5 teenagers to follow, but their personalities are only thin caricatures of which we can never fully sympathize. In one scene, Chris, gives us “the rules” of the forest, recalling Jaimie Kennedy’s famous speech about how to survive a horror movie in Scream.

As with most horror movies, teenagers only get a handful of personas on which to draw: Brainy, brawny, bitchy or busty. NIGHTLIGHT seems to have encompassed these personalities under the canopy of the more interesting and realized forest landscape, complete with disturbing woodland demons.

But, NIGHTLIGHT is a lot more than just character development. The movie is shot completely through the POV of a Ethan’s, now Robin’s flashlight. It took me a little while to realize that this is not a found footage film; there is no camera taped to the light, and we are simply looking through the O-ring for the entire movie. An interesting change of formula.

On a technical level, the movie surpasses many of its ilk. The film makers have really made the woods their primary focus, giving it a haunting personality, a quiet menace. Cinematographer Andrew Davis must have had many sleepless evenings. Despite the darkness of the setting, the “camera” is still able to pick up the details and ambiance of the ever-moving woods. Many movies have used cities as characters, and it’s nice to see that the directors have done the same with the dense forests of Utah.

Another aspect of the technological genius is the way things are represented in the shadows. If a character is talking, the viewer is treated to many activities in the penumbra, or just out of view. The forest demons creep behind trees, blend into the scenery and only appear when they break their camouflage right before your eyes, which is good for a startle. Cave walls are perfect surfaces for devilish entities to blend into and are undetectable until you see them shift. Wind gusts move large portions of the tree line at one time, and full details of oak leaves are traced around the blackness of the midnight sky. Again, a hard feat to accomplish when you are illuminating a movie with only a single beam of light.

From Herrick Entertainment and Lionsgate: “NIGHTLIGHT”

 

The movie retains a big-budget feel even if the premise seems inexpensive. It is filled with scenes in which the focus is on one thing, but there is so much more going on beyond the parameters that you find your attention being drawn from the action and into the forest shadows.

As a whole, NIGHTLIGHT, has a lot going for it. The directors are well on their way to creating something greater. They seem to be adept at misdirection and they know how to capture the feeling of an improvising mother nature. NIGHTLIGHT for all of its technical wizardry does fail in some of the plot pacing and character development, but the devil is in the details, and NIGHTLIGHT is a visual stunner.

With little gore and some borrowed patchworks, NIGHTLIGHT is certainly worth a watch, if only for the magic and misdirection of the camera work; the movie will intrigue you more by what is hiding in the sidelight instead of what is bundled in the spot.

This time it might be best to see the forest for the trees.

NIGHTLIGHT is Rated R and stars Shelby Young, Chloe Bridges, Carter Jenkins, Mitch Hewer and Taylor Murphy. It will be in limited theatrical release on March 27 and on VOD the same day.

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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