Ken Barber (Geno Walker) moves into a fairly dull and quiet apartment. It’s not long until Ken becomes “a shut-in”, hiding from the world and having little interactions with strangers. Ken has no job, so he attempts to start a video channel with various “how-to” educational videos while staying indoors, allowing him to share his past experiences with the internet. But so far, Ken has failed to get many viewers and followers on anything he makes.
One night, during a live stream recording, something suspicious, creepy and highly unexplainable happens behind Ken’s back. Ken begins to conduct a personal investigation, which includes a series of tests and receiving opinions from others. All his research leads him to believe an entity is living in the same apartment as him! He blogs about his discovery and reveals all his findings through various recordings. Suddenly Ken sees a spike in followers, and his new finding gains the interest of many people worldwide, including spiritual professionals. Can Ken remove whatever supernatural element is living within his home before it’s too late?
Night’s End is a fun and creative horror film. The supernatural events happening in the background are filled with easter egg-like moments. These surprising moments help build suspense and a general creepiness to Ken’s new situation. It’s quite a mysterious film, and viewers will be questioning which of the possible outcomes will be realised.
I enjoyed how the plot of this film started with something small before building into something far bigger than I expected. Ken is a character who is fairly likeable and quirky. Considering he is normally a knowledgeable character, I loved seeing him being challenged with something he’s never encountered before (something supernatural). To help him figure this situation out, Ken contacts those close to him and people who are more skilled in this department via video chat. The lead actor never encounters anyone in the flesh and only communicates with other characters via video chat, suggesting that this film was made during the global pandemic.
While I truly found core elements of this film spooky and exciting, some issues do tarnish what the film could have been. Firstly, certain side characters are almost laughable and cringe-worthy, including a priest named Colin, who feels incorrectly cast in this role. The plot for the majority is dark and serious, but the third act feels more wild and goofy with its themes and conclusion. I’m also saddened to say certain plot details during the third act don’t make sense while other plot elements feel ignored. The third act is a major disappointment not just because of the direction of its story but how it’s done. This act removed the enjoyment I had leading up to it. Sure there are some twists and big reveals, but it’s nothing overly shocking. If anything, the film had me shaking my head, feeling more baffled than horrified.
Overall, Night’s End begins with a horror and exciting story. I was highly invested in the film for most of the duration and excited to see this horror film unfold. I enjoyed the film’s lead, Geno Walker, who feels convincing given his new situation. But sadly, what starts as something serious and enjoyable becomes more wild and goofy by its third act, where plot elements are either missing or are not explained well. Certain side characters feel out of place and are incorrectly cast, which like the ending, feels either disappointing, cringe-worthy or laughable depending on the viewer.
5.9/10
18th March 2022
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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