A woman in danger, a mysterious disappearance, and a spooky house in the woods are all in Gone in the Night. What makes the film work so well is how quiet and unnerving it is. The movie takes a long time to build suspense and reveal deeper themes.
The perfect midsummer creeps are created by writer/director Eli Horowitz, who uses a great cast and an unnerving location. In an interview with Digital Trends, Horowitz talks about why he chose Gone in the Night as his first feature film and why it is part of a wave of recently released horror films.
You produced two seasons of the Amazon series adaptation, as well as directing and producing the Homecoming podcast. How did Gone in the Night come about?
The challenge was part of the reason. I enjoy playing with new forms so this was an exciting new medium to try. It was an opportunity to do something that didn't fit in with any of the categories or genres. I wanted to make something that was entertaining but also had some questions about getting older and holding onto youth.
This is the first full-length film you've ever made. What did you think about working in a new medium?
It was not an easy task. I researched how to direct a movie, read books, and talked to friends to prepare for it. I knew the material well, but I wanted to have as much preparation as possible: page by page, line by line, scene by scene. I knew that would help me because it is easier to panic when you are shooting. There was a lot to learn as a director. I could always depend on the fact that I was the one who knew it best.
When you were starting to write and direct this film, did you have any inspiration?
We talked about a lot of different movies. The other was a film from a few years ago. It was sort of a noir fairy tale but also its own thing, and I liked the way that it played with genre.
Another film that I like is 10 Cloverfield Lane, which featured John Gallagher Jr. I like movies that are smart about understanding the viewer's expectations and playing with them and trying to stay one step ahead.
There is an impressive cast of established and up-and-coming actors. How did they get involved with this film?
It all began with the actress, and that was a mistake. I sent the script after writing her a note. I got a text from an unknown number that said, "Let's do it." That was a big surprise.
The other dominoes fell quickly once we had her. I knew that he would be a good partner because we worked on the TV adaptation of Homecoming.
It's easy to work with John Gallagher Jr., he's so good in everything he does. I was blown away by the professionalism, energy, and enthusiasm of the two younger actors. It was fun to work with all of them because they were all different in their careers.
Gone in the Night is a horror film. In 2020 we had The Rental and Barbarian. There is a specific fear of the suburbs that is appealing to a variety of filmmakers.
There is a weird leap of faith involved in walking into someone's space and pretending it's ours. It isn't our property, and there's so much we don't know that we just don't think about it.
There is a special resonance because it is mine. Ten years ago, I bought a small cabin in the woods, fixed it up, and then rented it out on the internet. Because of that, I think I get to claim more credibility among my peers.
What scene did you like to shoot?
That is a great question. I enjoy working with Owen and Brianne because they are so energetic and full of ideas. They were so strange. They were the kind of scenes where we didn't have to worry about the deeper themes. We could focus on what their characters were like. It was fun to see how weird they were.
The film slowly shows deeper themes about mortality. Did it matter to you to have a genre picture deal with more than just thrills?
I believe so. The best movies of this kind are when they are scared. The thrills that are on the screen aren't just that guy has a scary face or a lot of blood, but it's tapping into something that we're always worried about on a deeper level
I think about myself a lot when I think of that. It is a universal experience of worry about mortality, whether or not we are focused on it or not. Everyone needs to have their own take on how to get through the day, the year, and the decades.
We wanted each character in the movie to wrestle with that in their own way. The characters experience denial or embrace of death in some way.
I think you will never be able to rent out your house again after seeing this movie.
If they want a memorable experience with fake guns, they can rent it.
The movie Gone in the Night can be ordered on demand.
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