Since 1973’s The Exorcist, filmmakers have been inspired to expand upon a subgenre of horror that reached new heights in William Friedkin’s drama/horror hybrid. We often find the female child or woman most disturbing when afflicted with demonic possession. Long hair can sometimes cloak a demon’s inhuman glare, and there are few things more disturbing than a fem ghoul giggling or imitating childlike mannerisms.
The Overnight has clearly tapped into this vibe, at least judging by the trailer. The transformation of a pretty girl into a horrifying ghoul dates back to some of the earliest forms of cinema with movies like Fritz Lang’s 1927 Metropolis and White Zombie from 1932. And who can forget little Karen Cooper from 1963’s Night of The Living Dead? The scene where she murders her mommy with a brick trowel is still effectively disturbing to this day with the help of George Romero’s eye for horror and clever sound design. Evil is represented in all kinds of ways in cinema, but one of its most literal incarnations may be in the form of females taken over by something deeply sinister from the dark realm.
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The Overnight’s synopsis reads:
Credited with two directors, Bobby Francavillo and Kevin Rhoades, this could signal a combination of creative sensibilities that hopefully enhances the film. The movie is likely a blend of haunted house horror and demonic possession, proven to be a match made in Hell in 1988’s Night of The Demons from director Kevin Tenney.
“After a romantic weekend gets sidetracked, a young couple find themselves at an outdated hotel, caught up in murderous death-loops, and as bait for a demon.”
The movie’s promotion is also leaning heavily on the acting skills of Mathilde Dehaye. The actress brings other great demonic performances to mind, like Betsy Baker from The Evil Dead and several of Linnea Quigley’s iconic 1980s performances. Originally conceived under the title The Stay, it may have been the distribution under Vertical that led to the title change. The company has put out countless medium-budget indie films over the years, including Travolta’s Gotti and some of Bruce Willis’ final efforts. The company also has 2020’s Shadow in the Cloud on its resume, a film growing in cult status penned by the controversial Max Landis.
The Overnight: Manifesting Evil
Rock Road Media
Functioning as a kind of social beacon for like-minded audiences, horror is a unique genre that remains one of the best ways to make a splash for filmmakers. Standing out in the increasingly dense inventory of titles available is hard to do in 2022. Still, for a particular rabid audience, when you correctly tap into terror, it summons an interest level unlike anything else in the film industry.
While civility remains the cornerstone of any functioning society, horror films can serve as a healthy catharsis to experience evil and chaos. This has never been more needed in the modern era, where our empathy is under attack by social media silos and cold A.I. algorithms. A lack of in-person engagement can send one’s mind into paranoia, negativity, and other dark domains.
Horror films like The Overnight manifest an innocuous kind of evil that can be contained within the boundaries of cinema. While the genre comes in many colors and flavors, it may genuinely help prevent real-life horror, creating a safe space for souls who crave it.
Why The Overnight Looks Promising
Paranormal horror often inspires notions of the overwhelming existential crisis we all face on a planet hurtling through the cosmos with a vague understanding of our origins and purpose. H.P. Lovecraft’s exploration of these themes still permeates pop culture today and can easily be considered the base mythology for most horror entrenched in the supernatural, including The Overnight.
According to those who have worked closely with horror icon Clive Barker, there are mysterious energies that go beyond known science swirling around the artist. Barker’s last directorial feature, Lord of Illusions, explored the paranormal relationship between magicians and their magic, proposing that it comes from a very real place for some. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare suggests the power of Freddy Krueger was imbued with a real-life demon. While the Ouija board has long been accused of being a doorway for demons to enter the hearts and minds of its users, film may also have an inherent quality for summoning something into our reality that is unnatural.
The Overnight looks promising for those who enjoy unexplained sounds and paranormal happenings firing off in their home while watching a nightmare unfold on a television screen. While some may be utterly horrified by the prospect, there are those who enjoy shining a light into the dark voids of the unknown.
Should you desire to go fishing for demons, check out The Overnight premiering on June 3, 2022, in theaters and VOD.
