Night Always Comes review lands mixed verdict

Vanessa Kirby leads a tense Netflix thriller as critics say the script weighs down a strong performance.

Kirby shines in Night Always Comes but script falters

Night Always Comes is a Netflix thriller directed by Benjamin Caron and based on Willy Vlautin's crime novel. Vanessa Kirby plays Lynette, a woman facing eviction who must raise a large sum to keep her disabled brother from being taken away. Set mainly over one night in a Pacific Northwest neighborhood, the film opens with a news montage that frames poverty as a looming trap, then follows Lynette as she takes increasingly extreme measures to save her home.

The review praises Kirby's performance, noting she makes Lynette abrasive and forthright, with flashes of vulnerability. However, it criticizes the screenplay for feeling heavy-handed and overly expositional, and it underuses the supporting cast, including Zack Gottsagen as her brother. The result is a tense setup that never fully pays off, leaving viewers wanting more momentum from a strong lead.

Caron keeps the action tight and the night claustrophobic, but the adaptation struggles to translate Vlautin's blunt social commentary into a clear thriller through a single, relentless night. The film aims to mirror working-class strain but risks simplifying complex issues into shock twists.

In the streaming era, where lean thrillers compete for attention, the movie's uneven tempo and fragile character work may deter casual viewers even when Kirby holds the frame. It signals both the promise and the limits of star power to carry a film that falters in structure.

Highlights

A night ends, but Kirby’s next project could start a brighter chapter.