As we draw closer to spooky season, we are seeing the usual uptick of horror offerings in theaters and especially on streaming. For their part, Shudder and AMC+ present Night of the Reaper, directed by Brandon Christensen and co-written with Ryan Christensen. This low-budget horror film is clearly a labor of love, and the attention to detail shows off a love for classic '70s and '80s horror films, like Halloween, Prom Night, or When a Stranger Calls.
In the wake of the murder of a young babysitter, college student Deena (Jessica Clement) returns home to a town in mourning. In addition to the babysitter, other strange disappearances and unexplained accidents have plagued the local sheriff (Ryan Robbins). He receives several clues to the killer’s identity, leading him on a scavenger hunt around town to find the rest. In the meantime, Deena is roped into replacing her friend as the sheriff’s babysitter for the night, putting her in sight of the same killer.
While Night of the Reaper doesn’t really offer anything too shocking for dedicated horror fans, it is an enjoyable ride to the finish line. The meticulous attention to period-specific details, effective use of dark hallways, and a few twists and turns make this film a fun watch.
Night of the Reaper is a bit uneven, but it keeps you guessing until the very end
The story of Night of the Reaper is a bit on the silly side, but that’s not a bad thing. At times, it tends towards the melodramatic, with convenient connections that make things come together a little too neatly. In short, the plot is very, very light. However, it also offers a fun spin on the helpless babysitter trope and homes in on an interesting theme of justice in the face of senseless brutality.
The film's atmosphere more than makes up for the lightness of the plot. Big, empty, creaky houses are used to their full potential, making you scan the background to look for hidden terrors. There’s also space for fun, with some meta references to classic horror cliches. “It’s never who you think it is,” the sheriff warns as he narrows his list of suspects, which is both a warning to his deputy and for us, the viewers. The blatant references to older horror films, from showing scenes from William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill to costumes reminiscent of Child’s Play, also help create a unique tone.
While the 80s aesthetic may be somewhat overused in modern horror, it’s done exceptionally well in Night of the Reaper. The costuming and set design help emphasize the period, but the film goes beyond surface-level gimmick. Even the lighting, a little too dark in places, and a somewhat grimy, imperfect feel to the picture quality help place the film in the late '70s or early '80s. The time period is also essential to the plot, lending itself to the serial killer genre and eliminating modern conveniences to help raise the stakes.
However, the minimal use of gore or on-screen violence is where Night of the Reaper deviates from its '80s inspiration. Much of the gore is implied or very lightly used, which will be fine for some but a disappointment to others. With that said, this seems to be just a budgetary constraint — the film does have a few very vivid instances of gore, which count the most towards the film’s conclusion. Using practical effects over CGI will likely go a long way toward winning its audience back.
The acting is similarly uneven amongst the cast. Clements gives a strong performance as Deena, seamlessly flipping between emotions and motivations as the plot progresses. She stands out as a major saving grace for the film, particularly in the third act. Robbins also gives an entertaining performance as Sheriff Rod, occasionally swinging a little too big, but not so much so that he distracts from the film — he matches the energy perfectly. Other than a fun odd-ball presence from Matty Finochio as Deputy Butch, most of the other performances are a bit stilted or otherwise not fully realized.
Overall, Night of the Reaper is a bit of a retread of other films, but it is still a slick, effective thriller. It would likely pair well with a Halloween marathon, especially in a crowd that includes both horror buffs and scaredy cats.
Night of the Reaper is available to stream on Shudder and AMC+ as of Sept. 19.
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