Back in 2019, writer and director Josh Lobo broke into the horror scene with his film debut, I Trapped the Devil. Now, he’s back with a new esoteric, unnerving horror film, co-written by Rowan Russell, titled Night After Night. The film follows two security guards working at a mysterious and highly private institution. When strange figures begin appearing in the building during the night shift, it sends the two guards down very different paths as they seek to unlock the secrets of their workplace.

With this being Lobo’s sophomoric feature film, Night After Night shows that he clearly has a signature style and tone for his films. Most notably, Lobo tends to craft horror films that speak to the darker side of human nature. The two security guards are working for an organization that seems very cult-like, keeping the inner workings of what they do shrouded in mystery. Things get even more strange during the night shift as each night, after everyone goes home, silent, naked people appear in the building and are gone by the time morning comes. Who are these people? What do they want? Where do they come from? With Night After Night, the film is broken into chapters, each one focusing on a different character. This allows for the audience to really get to know the main characters while also revealing key pieces of information from different perspectives. The unnerving, slow-burn plot touches many fascinating themes. This includes exploring themes of loneliness, how people respond to the unknown, and the inherent violence that’s part of human nature. If you’re a movie buff who needs to have all your lingering questions answered, then this likely isn’t the film for you. Lobo doesn’t dive into explanations when it comes to what the institute really is, how they operate, or even the origin of the strange figures lurking around at night. Instead, it focuses on how the main characters react to these things, making the audience contemplate how they would react if they were thrust into a similar situation. It’s a truly compelling, thought-provoking story that will lead to a number of heated conversations and likely some fascinating written analysis.

One thing that makes the cast of Night After Night so interesting is that the characters seem to break the stereotypes you would expect solely based on appearances. Scott Poythress (I Trapped the Devil, Greenland) stars as Andy, the day security guard. On the surface, Poythress portrays Andy in a way that makes him feel like someone who would complain about the male loneliness epidemic. Yet there are layers to this character. His loneliness is a large part of who he is, but how he reacts to the mysteries happening around him is quite unexpected, showing a deep empathy most people these days don’t possess. Johnny Sibilly (Hacks, Queer as Folk) plays the night security guard, Willis. Willis has an inherent curiosity and a desire to solve the puzzle of his workplace and the strangers, a drive that Andy doesn’t have. On the surface, this is a character one would expect to be more open to the unknown, but Sibilly shows audiences Willis is far more complicated and conflicted. The film also has strong performances from Alexis Louder (Violent Night) and AJ Bowen (You’re Next).

Because Night After Night is a film heavily rooted in metaphor and exploring the human psyche, the sights and sounds play an important role in the film’s success. The space where the unknown people appear is typically shown in black and white. There are also security cameras set up throughout the building that show things in infrared, but these strangers only appear as formless blobs on those cameras. This and other bits of interesting camera work help to show the strangers aren’t necessarily human, but that doesn’t mean they are something to be feared. There is also a bit of practical effects work sprinkled in that looks great and adds a small dash of gore. When it comes to the sound design, a lot of what is heard is meant to set the audience on edge. It weaves in disconcerting sounds that set off danger alarm bells, helping to put the audience in the same headspace as Andy and Willis. It makes it easier to step into these characters’ shoes and decide how you would react to the peculiar situations these men find themselves in. Every sight and sound adds to the mystery, enhances the suspense, and creates a bizarre balance of fear and empathy.

Night After Night is another success for Lobo as he uses slow-burn tension to tell a disturbing, unflinching tale that examines human nature. The script he created with Russell might be too on the vague side for casual movie goers, but those willing to do a bit of mental work along the way will find the strange, cerebral story quite engrossing. Poythress and Sibilly both deliver great performances, often breaking the expectations one might have upon meeting their individual characters. With visuals and sound design meant to unnerve and build the suspense, audiences will find this to be a singular cinematic experience that forces a bit more mental exercise than your typical horror film. Night After Night is currently on the festival circuit, so be sure to keep an eye out for when it will be in a theater near you.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10