Synopsis
Eli Horowitz’s feature debut film “Gone in the Night” is a psychological mystery thriller where the characters fall deeper into the web of intrigue with every little piece of information uncovered. The film was formerly known as “The Cow” and takes a deep captivating dive into a central disappearance while revolving around an obsession with youth, betrayal, and unresolved issues.
The film starts with highlighting Kath’s character played by Winona Ryder, who is a middle aged woman and goes on a weekend trip with her younger boyfriend, Max (John Gallagher Jr.). Their weekend getaway is a secluded cabin in the woods. However, upon their arrival, their intended cabin is already occupied by a young couple, Al (Owen Teague) and Greta (Brianne Tju). Al and Greta agree to share the cabin for the night with Max and Kath after a tense negotiation, but the group cannot set aside their age, lifestyle, and personality differences.
The following day, Kath wakes up to notice that Max has disappeared, supposedly having left with the mysterious Greta the night before. Feeling confused and betrayed, Kath returns home and tries to move on, but the incident continues to bother her. She finally decides to confront the situation, and the only thing she could come up with is try to discover why Max so unusually departed. This leads her to the brilliant yet reclusive scientist Nicholas Levi Barlow (Dermot Mulroney) who owns the cabin and has mysterious connections with Greta and Al.
The Kath that we know is beginning to investigate the young couple, and the eccentric Nicholas, reveals that she has a dark obsession which often leans towards the sinister side. What starts as a classic case of a missing boyfriend swiftly transforms into a deeper case full of trust betrayal, systematic exploitation of human nature, and breaches of medical ethics that can only be described as monstrous.
The film’s narrative structure is non-linear as the film moves back and forth through the timeline to reveal the full truth slowly. Characters’ flashbacks give insight to their motives and allude to the sinister experiment underpinning the narrative. Kath uncovers what is a morally compromised biological experiment in a more twisted pursuit of eternal youth in stark contrast to superficial attempts.
The themes of the film are centered around control, obsession, and loss of control, which are heightened in the context of women of a certain age who are often underestimated. The resolution of the film remains deliberately ambiguous and unsettling, reinforcing these themes.
Cast & Crew
Winona Ryder as Kath
Winona Ryder brings a grounded, introspective performance to the role of Kath. Ryder portrays a woman coming to terms with aging, trust, and identity deftly. The film’s emotional core is derived from Ryder’s ability to seamlessly shift from vulnerable to strong.
John Gallagher Jr. as Max
Gallagher portrays Max as a somewhat immature and impulsive character. Later on, the film sheds light on these motives. Max’s youthful charm is often coupled with a certain carelessness as seen with his baffling and yet expected disappearance.
Dermot Mulroney as Nicholas Levi Barlow
Mulroney portrays Nicholas with a quiet intensity. As a former biotech business owner turned recluse, he is both smart and menacing. Mulroney’s performance is unsettling, yet subtle, underscoring the film’s exploration of dark themes.
Owen Teague as Al
Teague’s Al is a blend of innocence and spontaneity. He is the moral void of a generation that is fixated on innovation and physical self-optimization.
Brianne Tju as Greta
As a somewhat manipulative and mysterious figure, Tju’s Greta is a blend of charm and unease. She is pivotal to the film’s mystery and its later, revealing parts.
Director: Eli Horowitz
Homecoming podcast’s Eli Horowitz, co-creator of the podcast, makes his feature directorial debut with Gone in the Night. His narrative style is influenced by podcast storytelling, as he focuses on character-driven narratives with complex, layered mysteries and gradual unfolding.
Writers: Eli Horowitz & Matthew Derby
The co-writing duo of Horowitz and Derby crafted a screenplay that centers on mood and psychological tension, intentionally avoiding elements of traditional horror. The script is rich in dialogue and emphasizes existential themes.
Cinematography: David Bolen
The film’s visual style features a subdued and eerie look with a cold color palette and shadowy interiors depicting isolation and confusion. The sparsely populated rural setting becomes a character mirroring the characters’ internal confusion.
Music: David Baldwin
The score and the film’s psychological nature are both minimalist and subtle. The score features subtle ambient tones and shifts that build tension.
IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
Gone in the Night has a somewhat low IMDb rating of 4.9/10. It features a blend of critic and audience reception. Though reviews of the performances, especially Winona Ryder’s, were positive, the primary criticism surrounded the film’s pacing, inconsistent tension, undeveloped plot points, and overall drag.
Critics have noted the film’s strong premise, although most agreed the film sometimes missed the mark in execution. The first act builds a pretty good dose of intrigue, while the middle section becomes somewhat meandering and heavy on exposition. Some viewers were left feeling that the final act, although it has a twist, does not earn the build up.
Supporters of the film claim that it does better as a character study than a traditional thriller. Kath’s arc is framed as a reclaiming of agency, and confronting ageist assumptions. This gives the film a deeper emotional resonance. In this regard, Gone in the Night is best described as a slow psychological burn instead of a high-octane mystery.
Descriptive phrases like “quiet thriller” have been used to characterize this film, and while these phrases have merit, they can also be quite limiting. Gone in the Night’s lack of bombastic action is a double-edged sword. This film does not rely on jump scares, instead, it offers turn-by-turn reveals which culminate in the end, ethical contemplation, and a great deal of self-reflection. Some viewers appreciated this fresh take, while others perceived it as lackluster and uninspired.
The film does explore certain themes such as the anxieties of fading away, no longer bearing relevance, and losing control of one’s life and body. Though most of these themes do not seem to be woven into the story’s tapestry, the film’s philosophical ambition does set it apart from its more straight-edged, generic thriller counterparts.
Conclusion
Gone in the Night is a unique, mixed-genre film that breaks the traditional tropes of suspense or horror. It is more of a personal discovery story, exploring the themes of deception and the extreme measures people take to reclaim or find meaning in their lives, as well as to reclaim their youth. The film features Winona Ryder, whose performance is both sympathetic and captivating, and Eli Horowitz, whose direction is tactfully paced and deliberate.
Gone in the Night embraces the philosophy of identity and manipulation, which the film grapples with thoughtfully. Though it will not satisfy fans of frenetic energy, it will appeal to viewers with more of a focus on psychological narrative layered with moral intricacy and characterization.
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