It Comes at Night

Stars: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Griffin Robert Faulkner, David Pendleton

Director: Trey Edward Shults

Another week, another horror movie: cinema's most resilient genre rides again, sure of a dedicated audience of shockfilm addicts and, then all too often, destined for minor Gothic movie festivals before turning up on late night television.

Writer-director Shults' scary story of a family hiding out in their isolated home and forced to defend themselves and fight for survival after an apocalyptic plague cause chaos throughout civilization racks up considerable suspense on a patently low budget with star Edgerton, well cast as the paterfamilias, doubling up as executive producer.

The family feel semi-safe living in their isolated home until, unexpectedly, their hideout is discovered by a young family who seek safety with them, cueing increasing suspense and stark scares.

Shults (well complemented by Drew Daniels' atmospheric cinematography and a suitably moody score by Brian McOmber) delivers strong suspense and scares on a patently low budget, creating a shocker with more impact and intelligent scaremongering than its storyline and un-starry cast might promise.

Alan Frank

USA 2017. UK Distributor: Universal. Colour.
87 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 3, Drugs 1, Swearing 0.

Review date: 14 Nov 2017

DVD review