PopHorror Let's Get Scared
IFC Midnight is already starting the year out with a bang. Their new Iranian Psychological Thriller, The Night is definitely one you will want to add to your viewing list. The film was written and directed by Kourosh Ahari. That cast includes Shahab Hosseini (A Separation), Niousha Jafarian (Here & Now), and George Maguire (Pursuit of Happiness).
Synopsis for The Night
A suspenseful thriller that unfurls the story of a young Iranian family living in the US. This is the directorial debut from Iranian filmmaker Kourosh Ahari and is crossing the historic benchmark of being the first US-produced film to receive distribution in Iran in four decades. Following a tense night out with friends, Babak (played masterfully by Iranian superstar Shabab Hossein, winner of Best Actor at the 2016 Cannes Film Festivali), and Neda (Niousha Jafarian) and their infant daughter find themselves spending the night in a hotel. As a malevolent energy torments the family, Babak and Neda’s deeply guarded secrets are summoned from their dark hiding places. THE NIGHT will not end until they confront the truth within themselves.
Although I love horror and thrillers, I rarely get scared. That being said, I can honestly and surprisingly say that The Night was utterly terrifying and sent chills down my spine. It’s an exceptionally haunting story with killer performances and a chilling atmosphere that will leave you wanting to keep the lights on at night.
All of the performances were powerful and emotional draining. Shabab Hossein and Niousha Jafarian were exceptional and you can feel the pain and confusion their characters are going through and the tension it causes in their marriage.
From beginning to end, The Night’s atmosphere and tone were unsettling and claustrophobic. The soundtrack helped at to that and helped make each scene that more intense and pure nightmare fuel. That ending was wickedly sinister and I definitely did not see that coming.
IFC Midnight will release The Night on Friday, January 29, 2021, in select theatres and on digital and VOD platforms. This does not feel like the work of a first-time director, Kourosh Ahari will blow you away with this haunting experience.
