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There's a lot of discussion on here as to whether this film constitutes a horror film or something more akin to a psychological drama. As a horror film, I didn't find the film scary, and as a psychological drama, not particularly fresh in what it was presenting. I consider 'The Road' as a much, much stronger example of a film that blends horror and psychological drama - in exploring the limits of humanity & family in an apocalyptic setting. It's nonetheless a well-made film with fine performances, but I came into the film expecting...something great, which it wasn't. That's hype for you.

First of all you should know that this film is not about some demon or some monster that comes at night. "It Comes at Night" is about an apocalyptic world where the the greatest enemy of human beings is their own fears and suspicions. Most of the people who didn't like this movie watched it because they just wanted to know "What is it that comes at night?". The monster that they were waiting for was in front of their eyes from the beginning until the end. This ugly monster is inside the characters it's inside their mind. It is not about the demon that kills people it's about the fear of this demon which kills them. The cinematography is just perfect. It creates a freaky atmosphere and makes the movie really scary. Lighting is used perfectly. Every corner feels like it may contain a beast of a zombie. Don't watch this movie if you just want to be entertained.

It Comes at Night - I could call it uncomfortable, claustrophobic, creepy, or disturbing. Any one of these would do, but I'll go with excellent. How would one categorize this film? Labeling it as Horror sets an incorrect expectation, but there are definitely scary moments. Going with Thriller wouldn't match the pacing, but my heart was beating faster in this movie than in any other in quite some time. Would Mystery or Suspense be the most appropriate? You're not really wondering what will happen next, but rather hoping that what you think will happen, won't. Maybe this is an introduction to the Apprehension genre. I loved how this movie was shot. Rather than big sweeping establishing shots or use of vivid color, the focus is right on the characters. The frame is often filled with a character's face; the movie not allowing you to back away from what they're experiencing. You're a fly on the wall that just can't get away. Joel Edgerton is the driving force of the story. He plays a father that puts aside his own morals and humanity in order to keep his family safe. Almost all of his actions seem cold and unforgivable if looked at individually. How they are done in context of the film, however, make you wonder what else he really could have done. I could see some people calling this movie slow. I would submit that it is patient. The pacing is perfect for the subject matter and there is no break in tone with this film. From opening to close there is a feeling of unease. I could also see people say there are too many loose ends. I would say this adds to the despair. Not every point is clear, not every piece introduced gets a pretty little bow. You'll wonder why these things happened. And you'll wonder how you could have fared any better. 8.25/10.