‘Night’s End’ Review: Shudder’s New Minimalist Film is an Isolation Story told over Zoom

Night’s End is now streaming only on Shudder. Reader beware, spoilers ahead!

What happens when apathy and anxiety won’t permit you to leave your apartment, but it may be haunted? That’s the premise of Shudder‘s latest release, Night’s End , from director Jennifer Reeder (V/H/S/: 94). The film was written by Brett Neveu and stars Geno Walker (Chicago Fire), Kate Arrington (Knives and Skin), Felonious Monk (Block Party), Lawrence Grimm (Captive State), and Michael Shannon (Knives Out).

Ken Barber (Walker) has seen better days, especially after a having a nervous breakdown due to alcohol abuse. Now without a job, divorced, and estranged from his kids, he’s set up a fresh start in a new town and apartment. Rather than look for work or meet new people, he’s much more comfortable working on his taxidermy bird collection and making “self-help” YouTube videos in the hopes that one of them will hit big. But with only 11 views on three separate videos, his dreams of going viral aren’t looking too good.

During one of their nightly chats, his best friend Terry (Monk) tells him he saw a bird fall off his shelf in one of his latest videos. As online comments suggest his new home may be haunted, it begins to gain traction. Realizing that this may be an angle to attract viewers and eventually end up on the popular paranormal show “Dark Corners,” he begins to do a little research.

Low and behold, there was a murder in the same house 100 years earlier. Terry and Ken try to ‘Scooby-Doo’ the ghost into a “spirit Jar” they read about online. In one of the few creepy moments of Night’s End, Ken blacks out during the incantation, but Terry sees the ghost of would-be ax murderer Roberta Wellwood (Morgan S. Reesh).

Reaching out to an expert on the occult, he recruits Colin Albertson (Grimm) to aid him in his spirit removal, as he literally wrote the book on it. Though eager to help, you wonder what his angle might be and whether he has Ken’s best interest at heart. On the other hand, his ex-wife Kelsey (Arrington) and her new husband Isaac (Shannon) are all in on posting more ghost videos. They too have been getting into watching “Dark Corners” and therefore want him to succeed. With everyone in place, the show can begin, and when the cameras go live, none of them could expect what happens next, well, almost everyone.

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Night’s End was filmed in essentially one location, the apartment during quarantine. Using Zoom calls to bring in other actors is a clever device, and given the nature of our hero, it makes perfect sense. It’s tough to say it hindered the movie’s effectiveness or if his isolation from everyone makes the stakes higher as he’s literally terrified to leave the apartment. A feeling, I’m sure a lot of us experienced over the last few years at some point.

The atmosphere of Night’s End is intense. With limited space, the production managed to cram a lot into a little. The newspaper on the windows, greenhouse, and taxidermy station in the computer room make for a less than appealing dwelling. Putting up plastic instead of doors isn’t entirely explained. Still, it does give the filmmaker the ability to keep shadows going from room to room, keeping our eyes scanning the darkness of the apartment with minimal costuming or makeup. I feel it was more out of necessity for production value than a stylized choice. Still it’s still effective in those moments when the spirit is active, giving it that extra creep factor.

There aren’t a lot of scares in Night’s End; the most effective is the first in the narrative. The experience is drawn out and suspenseful, making the jump more effective. Unfortunately, the movie never captures the moment again. There are a few quick frames with a screaming face, but it’s so fast you really don’t have time to react. The rest is just the same gimmick over and over, shadows and noise.

The cast did a fine job despite the limitations. Walker, as Ken, plays the melancholy man trying to get successful in the easiest way possible with sympathy rather than disgust. You feel for this character despite hints that he’s had some issues in the past. Felonious Monk is the standout, and I was excited when he popped up on the screen. Michael Shannon might as well be at a party, he’s so excited to be in this movie. He’s such a cut-up, but also so talented, even playing a dork who wants to drink and watch paranormal videos. I can relate.

Jennifer Reeder is building her resume while also trying to find her voice in the genre. There is talent there that knows what she wants from each scene but still honing her craft. Night’s End is an entertaining and immensely clever premise that I wish was flushed out more. Sometimes the idea is better than the execution. People will enjoy this a lot for the places it goes thematically and the humor/tension balance on display. This one will be right up your alley if you’re a fan of the paranormal versus the blood and guts. 2.5/5

★★★

You can check out the trailer for Night’s End below and the film is now streaming on Shudder. Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for all things horror, sci-fi, fantasy and more.