🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Trey Edward Shults
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Drama
- Release year: 2017
- Runtime (length): 1h 31min
- IMDb rating: 6.1/10 (107K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Two families share a house, get paranoid about a disease that might exist, and then everyone dies for no clear reason.
🍿 It Comes at Night: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Isolation and Initial Threat
The film begins with Paul, Sarah, and their son Travis living in a remote, boarded-up house in the woods. They are surviving an unspecified, highly contagious and deadly disease outbreak. The movie opens with the difficult decision to euthanize and cremate Sarah’s father, Bud, who is suffering from the illness. The family has strict rules to maintain their safety, reflecting their fear and paranoia.

The Arrival of Will and His Family
One night, they catch Will breaking into their home in search of supplies. After a tense confrontation, Will claims to have a wife and young child nearby and offers them food in exchange for help. Paul, wary but desperate, decides to help Will find his family, leading to an uneasy alliance. Paul retrieves Will’s family Kim and Andrew.

Paranoia and Mistrust
The two families attempt to coexist, but suspicion and paranoia begin to escalate. Travis, plagued by nightmares, grows increasingly disturbed by the presence of the newcomers. A series of unsettling events, including the family dog Stanley contracting the mysterious illness and the discovery of a compromised entry point, intensify the mistrust between the families.

Escalation and Violence
Fear reaches a boiling point when Andrew displays symptoms of the disease. Paul, convinced that Will’s family is infected, takes drastic action. This leads to a violent confrontation resulting in the deaths of Will, Kim, and Andrew. Travis runs to the scene, and it’s noticed he has contracted the disease as well.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Paul (Joel Edgerton): A protective father who imposes strict rules to safeguard his family from an external threat, even at a moral cost.
- Sarah (Carmen Ejogo): Paul’s wife, who supports his decisions but struggles with the moral implications of their isolated existence.
- Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.): The teenage son, haunted by nightmares, whose innocence is tested by the arrival of another family and the growing paranoia.
- Will (Christopher Abbott): A desperate father seeking refuge for his family, whose arrival disrupts the established order and sparks mistrust.
- Kim (Riley Keough): Will’s wife, who is fiercely protective of her child and caught in the escalating tension between the two families.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Paul: “You can’t trust anyone but family.” – Paul emphasizes this rule repeatedly as a mantra for survival in their isolated world.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $5,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $13,985,117
- Worldwide Gross: $19,735,344
💥 It Comes at Night Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, ‘It Comes at Night’ really got under my skin. The whole time I was watching, I felt this creeping sense of dread. The way the director built the tension was incredible. I remember specifically a scene where Travis is walking down the hallway, holding a lamp. I found myself holding my breath, scared of what might be lurking in the shadows. The ending was a total punch to the gut; I was left feeling completely empty, but in a strangely satisfied way. It’s not a feel-good movie, but it’s definitely a movie that sticks with you.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of psychological thrillers”
- “Viewers who appreciate ambiguous and thought-provoking stories”
- “Those interested in post-apocalyptic settings with a focus on character dynamics”
- “People who enjoy slow-burn horror with a strong emphasis on atmosphere”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense scenes of violence and suspense”
- “Disturbing imagery and themes”
- “Strong language”
- “Brief nudity”
- “May be unsuitable for younger viewers or those sensitive to paranoia-inducing content”
Professional Reviews
- IndieWire: “A masterclass in tension, ‘It Comes at Night’ excels at creating an atmosphere of dread. Shults masterfully uses sound design and claustrophobic cinematography to amplify the growing paranoia between two families.
- The Hollywood Reporter: “Joel Edgerton delivers a powerhouse performance in this unsettling thriller. ‘It Comes at Night’ explores the fragility of trust in a world consumed by fear, leaving viewers with lingering questions long after the credits roll.
Audience Reactions
The film’s haunting atmosphere and unsettling score kept viewers on the edge of their seats.: Many viewers praised the film’s ability to build suspense without relying on jump scares or gore.
Overall Consensus: A divisive yet thought-provoking thriller, ‘It Comes at Night’ is praised for its intense atmosphere and strong performances, but criticized for its ambiguous plot and lack of resolution.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The painting featured at the beginning of the movie is titled ‘The Triumph of Death’ by Pieter Brueghel the Elder.”
- “Director Trey Edward Shults uses different aspect ratios to differentiate between dream and nightmare sequences.”
🖥️ How to Watch It Comes at Night?
As of October 2024, “It Comes at Night” is available for purchase or rental on various platforms such as Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. Check your preferred streaming service for current availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed It Comes at Night, you might like these similar films:
- The Witch (2015): Both films are A24 productions that focus on psychological horror and family dynamics in isolated settings.
- The Road (2009): Deals with similar themes of survival, family bonds, and the loss of humanity in a post-apocalyptic world.
- It Follows (2014): Another horror film that relies on dread and atmosphere rather than jump scares.
🛒 It Comes at Night Related Products
- A24 Horror Movie Collection [Blu-ray]: A curated collection of A24’s most acclaimed horror films, showcasing their unique brand of atmospheric and thought-provoking scares.
- Survival Gear Kit – Emergency Supplies: A comprehensive kit for surviving a pandemic scenario, including a gas mask, water purification tablets, and first-aid supplies.
- Fear of the Unknown: A Psychological Horror Anthology: A collection of short stories exploring the depths of human paranoia and the terror of unseen threats.
- Plague Inc: Evolved: A strategy game where players design and evolve a deadly pathogen to wipe out humanity, testing their ability to adapt to global reactions and challenges.
🎧 Soundtrack
It Comes at Night features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The ‘it’ in “It Comes at Night” is intentionally ambiguous. It represents the pervasive fear, paranoia, and mistrust that consume the characters, rather than a specific external threat or monster. Some interpret it as the disease itself, while others see it as a metaphor for humanity’s capacity for self-destruction.
The nature of the disease is never explicitly revealed in the film. It’s portrayed as a highly contagious and deadly illness that causes skin lesions, respiratory distress, and eventually death. The ambiguity surrounding the disease contributes to the overall atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
Paul’s actions are driven by his overwhelming fear of the disease and his belief that Will’s family is infected. He prioritizes the safety of his own family above all else, leading him to make drastic and ultimately tragic decisions based on suspicion and paranoia.
🔥 Bonus Content
IT COMES AT NIGHT (2017) Ending Explained
Hey, have you seen the movie “It Comes at Night?” If you’re curious about the ending, check out this detailed explanation. It’ll help you wrap your head around the film and appreciate it on a deeper level.
It Comes at Night – The Dangers of Misleading Marketing
If you’ve seen “It Comes at Night,” you might be interested in this video. It explores how the marketing campaign may have influenced people’s opinions of the movie. It’s a thought-provoking analysis that gives us a glimpse of how marketing can shape our perceptions.
Quickie: It Comes at Night
In case you’re curious about the movie “It Comes at Night,” here’s a quick review. It’s a concise and informative video that gives you a taste of what the film is about.
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