Name: The Devil Comes at Night
Genre: Horror
Released: 2023-06-06T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Jason Martorino, Elias Zarou, Jeremiah Sparks, Julie Cohn, Ty Andrassy

The rain hammers against the farmhouse windows as Mason, a washed-up boxer played by Jason Martorino, presses his back against the door, his breath ragged. Outside, the shadows move with a purpose that defies nature. This is the tense opening of Scott Leaver’s The Devil Comes at Night, an indie horror that traps its characters—and audience—in a claustrophobic nightmare.

Leaver’s film follows Mason as he searches for his inheritance, only to find himself locked in his deceased father’s farmhouse, besieged by a cannibal cult. The premise is straightforward, but it’s the execution that makes this low-budget horror stand out. The cinematography leans into a dark, moody aesthetic, with neon lighting cutting through the gritty, low-budget visuals. There’s an undeniable atmosphere here, one that keeps the tension high even when the dialogue stumbles.

The cast is solid, with Martorino delivering a physically demanding performance as Mason. His presence anchors the film, and his chemistry with Adrienne Kress’s Amy adds a layer of humanity to the horror. Elias Zarou, as Jack, provides strong support, though some of the dialogue feels unintentionally humorous at times, disrupting the flow of tension that the film otherwise builds so effectively.

Where The Devil Comes at Night excels is in its commitment to the horror genre’s core elements: isolation, dread, and visceral scares. The farmhouse setting is utilized well, with Leaver making the most of tight spaces and limited resources. The cultists, particularly Ty Andrassy’s Tall Cultist, are effectively eerie, their presence looming over every scene they’re in. The sound design amplifies this, with creaks, whispers, and distant howls creating an immersive auditory landscape.

However, the film isn’t without its flaws. The pacing occasionally drags, particularly during scenes of exposition that feel necessary but clunky. The dialogue, while serviceable, sometimes veers into unintentional comedy, undercutting the horror in moments where it should be at its most intense. Additionally, some of the cult’s motivations and actions feel thinly sketched, leaving gaps in the narrative that could have been filled with more nuanced character development.

Despite these missteps, The Devil Comes at Night is a commendable effort in indie horror. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does prove that with a strong premise, committed performances, and an atmosphere of dread, you can craft a compelling horror experience on a limited budget.