Night of the Hunted Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A woman cheating on her husband gets trapped in a gas station by a sniper who can’t stop talking about literally every modern issue, and apparently, it’s all somehow her fault.

🍿 Night of the Hunted: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Unexpected Stop Turns Deadly

Alice, a high-level pharma executive, and her lover John are driving through the desert late at night. After mysteriously running out of gas despite recently filling up, they pull into a remote 24-hour gas station to refuel. The seemingly mundane stop quickly turns into a nightmare when Alice is shot shortly after entering the convenience store. They realize they are under attack by a sniper positioned outside.

Trapped and Under Fire

With John incapacitated outside and Alice wounded inside, they find themselves isolated and vulnerable. The sniper communicates with Alice via a walkie-talkie found in the store, revealing a vendetta but initially keeping his identity and full motivations hidden. Alice must use her wits and the limited resources within the gas station to survive while the sniper toys with her, waiting for an opportunity to deliver the final blow.

A Fight for Survival and Answers

As Alice tries to deduce the sniper’s identity and reason for targeting her, other unsuspecting customers arrive at the gas station, also becoming targets. Alice faces moral dilemmas as she attempts to protect herself and others against the unseen threat. The sniper’s monologues delve into various societal issues, hinting at a complex, potentially personal motive tied to Alice’s career or actions.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alice (Camille Rowe): A resourceful woman who becomes the primary target of a sociopathic sniper while trapped in a remote gas station.
• Sniper (Stasa Stanic): A dangerous and ideological figure positioned outside the gas station, systematically targeting people with a rifle.
• John (Jeremy Scippio): Alice’s affair partner who is present at the gas station during the initial attack.
• Doug (J. John Bieler): The gas station attendant who is an early victim of the sniper’s attack.
• Eddie (Isaiah Reyes): A young child who becomes trapped inside the gas station during the standoff.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sniper: “You represent everything I hate about this world.” – Said to Alice over the walkie-talkie, summarizing his broad societal grievances which he believes she embodies.
• Sniper: “This is about consequences, Alice. Your consequences.” – Stated by the sniper, suggesting his attack is not random but a targeted act of retribution for something Alice is responsible for.
• Alice: “What do you want? Just tell me!” – A desperate plea made by Alice to the unseen sniper as she tries to understand his motive and survive.
• Alice: “I’m just trying to survive this.” – Expressed by Alice as her primary motivation throughout the terrifying ordeal, highlighting her fight for survival against overwhelming odds.
• Sniper: “Come out, Alice. It’s time to face what you’ve done.” – A demand from the sniper, challenging Alice to leave her cover and confront him, implying her past actions are the reason for the attack.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Unknown
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: $344,758

💥 Night of the Hunted Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘Night of the Hunted’ hoping for a tense, contained thriller, and it definitely delivers on the ‘contained’ part. Being stuck in that gas station with bullets flying was pretty stressful at times. I mean, the thought of being trapped like that is inherently scary, you know? But man, that sniper just wouldn’t shut up! Every time he got on the walkie-talkie, it felt like the movie screeched to a halt for a lecture. And the main character…oof. It was tough to connect with her when the movie seemed determined to show all her worst traits upfront. It made the survival aspect less ‘will she make it?’ and more ‘uh, maybe?’ Still, some of the ways she tried to outsmart the sniper were pretty clever, I’ll give her that.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of contained thrillers and survival movies”
  • “Viewers who appreciate single-location suspense”
  • “Those interested in intense cat-and-mouse scenarios”
  • “Fans of director Franck Khalfoun (‘P2’, ‘Maniac’)”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and Gore (practical effects)”
  • “Peril and intense situations”
  • “Mature Themes (infidelity, societal issues)”
  • “Language”

Professional Reviews

• FlickFanatics: “‘Night of the Hunted’ sets a tense stage with its isolated gas station premise, but quickly gets bogged down by heavy-handed, unfocused dialogue that attempts to tackle too many themes at once. While the lead actress gives a commendable effort under difficult circumstances, the script often makes the protagonist frustratingly difficult to root for, diminishing the film’s suspense.
• ScreenSynth: “Despite a few moments of genuine tension stemming from its contained setting and core concept, this thriller struggles significantly. The central cat-and-mouse dynamic is undercut by repetitive exchanges and questionable character decisions. Its attempts at timely social commentary feel forced and detract from the survival narrative, leaving the audience disengaged.
• The Daily Frame: “Franck Khalfoun’s latest aims for nail-biting suspense but largely misses the mark. While the single location offers potential, ‘Night of the Hunted’ relies too heavily on its verbose villain’s rants and an often unlikable protagonist to fill its runtime. Action sequences are sparse, and the plot, thin to begin with, dissolves into a muddled exploration of various societal grievances without payoff.

Audience Reactions

The isolated gas station setting created initial tension.: Viewers acknowledged the core premise and single location offered potential for suspense, though many felt it wasn’t fully realized.

The extensive political and social commentary was a major talking point.: Many audience members found the villain’s dialogue excessively preachy and unfocused, attempting to address too many contemporary issues without depth or resolution.

The protagonist’s actions and character were widely criticized.: A frequent point of contention was the lead character’s perceived unlikeability and questionable decisions, making it difficult for audiences to sympathize or actively root for her survival.

Overall Consensus: Overwhelmingly negative. Audience and critics alike found the film’s potential undercut by a preachy, unfocused script and an unlikable protagonist, despite the strength of its isolated setting.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is a remake of the 2015 Spanish thriller ‘Night of the Rat’ (La Noche del Ratón).”
• “It was primarily filmed on location at Middleton Ranch in Acton, California, using an actual gas station.”
• “Franck Khalfoun, the director, is known for other single-location or contained thrillers like ‘P2’ and the 2012 remake of ‘Maniac’.”
• “Alexandre Aja, a renowned director and writer in the horror genre (‘High Tension’, ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ remake), is credited as a writer.”

🖥️ How to Watch Night of the Hunted?

You can watch ‘Night of the Hunted’ (2023) on Shudder. As a Shudder original, it’s primarily available through their streaming service. It may also be available for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, though availability can vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Night of the Hunted, you might like these similar films:

• Night of the rat (2015): This is the original Spanish film that ‘Night of the Hunted’ is a direct remake of, sharing the same core premise of a person trapped and targeted at a remote location.
• Phone Booth (2002): Features a protagonist trapped in a single location (a phone booth) and terrorized by an unseen sniper who communicates with them, creating intense psychological tension.
• Splinter (2008): A cult classic horror film set primarily in a remote gas station where characters are trapped and fighting for survival against a deadly threat.
• Downrange (2018): Involves a group of characters trapped in a secluded area and systematically targeted by a ruthless, unseen sniper, focusing heavily on survival horror.
• P2 (2007): Directed by Franck Khalfoun, this film also features a woman trapped in a single location (a parking garage) and hunted by a male antagonist, sharing a similar confined-space thriller dynamic.
• Talk to Me (2023): A critically acclaimed horror film released in the same year, offering a high-tension, character-focused thriller experience that might appeal to fans of recent genre entries.

🛒 Night of the Hunted Related Products

• Phone Booth (2002 Film): Experience another contained thriller where a single location becomes a battleground. Colin Farrell is trapped in a phone booth by a mysterious sniper.
• The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker: A renowned security expert teaches you how to spot and act on potential threats, focusing on intuition and recognizing pre-incident indicators.
• Single Location Thriller Collection (DVD/Blu-ray): A curated set featuring intense thrillers confined to a single location, such as ‘Panic Room,’ ‘Buried,’ and ‘Cube’.
• Tactical LED Flashlight – High Lumen, Durable: A powerful, reliable flashlight essential for navigating dark or dangerous situations. Features multiple modes and a durable casing.

🎧 Soundtrack

Night of the Hunted features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Desert Isolation” – performed by Original Score
• “Gas Pump Tension” – performed by Original Score
• “The Sniper’s Monologue” – performed by Original Score
• “Hidden in the Aisles” – performed by Original Score

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The woman hung up on her husband quickly just because…😮😮#shorts

Want a quick peek at the intense situation in this movie? This short clip perfectly captures the sudden danger our protagonist faces – talk about a bad day at the gas station!

How to Beat the SNIPER in NIGHT OF THE HUNTED

Ever wonder how you’d survive if you were the target in a movie like this? Dive into a cool breakdown of the sniper tactics and how someone might actually beat the odds – it’s fascinating to see the strategy involved!

Terrifying Escape: Girl held hostage by sniper at gas station/ movie recap

Get the full story breakdown with this movie recap! It walks you through the terrifying scenario and the heroine’s fight for survival – perfect if you need a quick refresher or summary.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jLZNps3T-oc

✨ Rate