Fresh off her Marvel debut withThe Fantastic Four: First Steps,Vanessa Kirbydelivers a riveting performance inNetflix’s latest dark thriller,Night Always Comes. Based on the 2021 novelThe Night Always Comesby Willy Vlautin, the film follows Lynette (Vanessa Kirby), a well-meaning but desperate woman on the verge of eviction. When her plan to buy the house she and her brother have lived in since childhood falls apart because of her mother’s carelessness, she must find $25,000 on her own.With less than a day to find the money, Lynette sets out on a dangerous journey and makes some difficult decisions she never thought she’d make. In doing so, she also confronts the horrors of her past as she risks everything to protect her family.
Set over the course of just one night,Night Always Comesmoves relentlessly once it takes off. Propped up against the backdrop of increasingly hard economic times, rampant gentrification, andimmense wealth disparity, the circumstances of the film are all too relatable. Lynette might venture into territory that most viewers wouldn’t dare traverse, but it’s easy to empathize with her situation, as well as some of her choices, given what she’s up against.Although the narrative is rather conventional, the film effectively conveys the constant anxiety Lynette experiences throughout the night, largely thanks to Kirby’s performance. If you haven’t seen Netflix’s brand-new dark thriller yet, you need to add it to your watchlist right away.
The Circumstances of ‘Night Always Comes’ Set the Stage for a Relatable Story
It Makes Viewers Question What They Might Do if Presented With the Same Situation
As the opening scenes ofNight Always Comelay the foundation of Lynette’s life, it’s clear her economic struggles are the crux of her problems. That’s the reason for the entire premise of the movie. She works multiple jobs, goes to school, takes care of her special-needs brother, and does her best tonavigate the chaos that is her mother. On the outside, she may seem like a woman who always has an excuse for being late to work or missing a payment, but these struggles reflect her circumstances, not her character. In fact, she’s overcome quite a bit, as the film shows us. Rather, it has everything to do with the state of the world around her. Unfortunately, her situation isn’t that different from that of many people currently living in the United States.
The plot might be a familiar one, but it’s still powerful.Night Always Comesisn’t trying to tell a story people haven’t seen before. Instead, it aims to showcase how hard economic times often force everyday people like Lynette to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. Shedoesn’t set out to be a criminal, but she can’t seem to catch a break. As a result, she follows a dangerous path all for the sake of her family. Is it so hard to imagine you wouldn’t do the same if you were Lynette? That’s the point. The film makes viewers question what they might do if presented with the same situation. Thus, empathizing with Lynette isn’t difficult, especially when we see her try so hard to do the “right” thing.
Vanessa Kirby’s Performance in ‘Night Always Comes’ Is One of the Best of Her Career
The Film Is a Compelling Must-Watch Because of Her
IfNight Always Comesdoes anything, it shines a spotlight on the talents of Vanessa Kirby. As always, she’s phenomenal and delivers one of the best performances of her career. Without her, the film would lack the same emotional depth and tension. In many ways, there’s nothing inherently unique about Lynette. Unfortunately, the way her life was shaped when she was young, and the way it plays out in the movie, resembles the kind of life manyother women have experienced. However, Kirby masterfully shows Lynette’s strengths and vulnerabilities without making her a cliché. Such a compelling performance ultimately pulls viewers in and allows them to see everything from Lynette’s point of view, which is certainly no easy feat.
Kirby is the kind of actress whose thoughts come through in the subtle expressions on her face. Viewers can see her thinking, which is always an alluring skill to have as a performer. Because of this, the audience can feel what Lynette is feeling. We’re able to see her thought process the entire night without the need for a voice-over. As such, it’s tough to see her struggle when we know how hard she’s trying. Lynette isn’t a bad person who wants to hurt anyone; she’s been backed into a corner and left with no other viable options.
While viewers might not have made the same decisions as Lynette, Kirby’s performance, at the forefront of such relatable hard economic times, provides a space for empathizing with characters they might otherwise not identify with. After all, her story is all too common, especiallyin today’s America. Sure, her situation is a bit extreme, seeing as she’s been given one night to scrounge up $25,000, but that’s kind of the point. It’s still a movie, after all. Without a doubt,Night Always Comesis a must-watch because of Vanessa Kirby, and you should immediately add it to your watchlist.Night Always Comesis currently streaming onNetflix.
Night Always Comes
