NIGHT SKY *** USA 2022 Dir: Jacob Gentry. 96 mins
A petty thief struggling with a gunshot wound, stumbles across a girl that is out of this world. She saves his life so he agrees to take her to her family on a road trip to New Mexico.
For a sci-fi thriller, this could have added a little more pacing to avoid any lulls and to keep the tension that had been building.
AJ Bowen was a great choice for lead Oren, providing a worthy performance and easy chemistry with Annie (Brea Grant) who also performed with ease.
Psychopathic hitman Scott Poythress gives a stellar performance of a man who just happens to be in the right place at the right time. They each take on the dillusioned roles in their own way.
The cinematography had a gritty style that matched the weird but wonderful plot.
We are presented with a meaningful connection to Native American culture, both spiritually and visually as some areas of great importance were used for filming. Research had clearly been thorough in order to be respectful to these cultures.
The effects were expertly crafted and it was clear Director Jacob Gentry hadn’t aimed higher than the budget allowed for, which shows a great dedication to the workings of film. This results in a piece that just seems to work, for the most part.
Review by Poppy Blundell