AFTER MIDNIGHT (2019) Reviews and overview

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‘Love will rip your heart out’

After Midnight is a 2019 American indie horror film directed by and co-starring Jeremy Gardner (The Battery) and Christian Stella from a screenplay written by Gardner. The Rustic Films-Kavya Films production also stars Henry Zebrowski, Brea Grant and Justin Benson. The movie was originally titled Something Else

Plot:

For small-town bar owner Hank, his ten-year relationship with Abby has been storybook-quality. Abby, however, wants more: marriage, to be exact, which Hank doesn’t seem ready to initiate anytime soon. As a result, she leaves him without so much as a note or any subsequent communication. Hank is crushed.

Even worse, Abby’s departure seemingly triggers the arrival of an unseen monster that claws at Hank’s front door at night. As the nocturnal threat intensifies, Hank must figure out how to not only save his relationship but also himself…

Reviews:

“The film’s finest moment comes in the form of an amazing single-shot sequence that lasts well over ten minutes as Abby and Hank discuss the issues with their relationship. Gardner and Grant knock it out of the park here, constructing a moment so genuine that it feels almost voyeuristic from a viewer’s perspective. It’s not merely the best scene in the film, it’s perhaps the best scene I’ve seen all year.” Cinema Slasher

“The characters are written and developed in a way that makes them relatable, believable, and you care about what happens to them. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Hank, especially since he was now alone and the victim of these attacks night after night.” Crypt Teaze

Something Else has a tendency to become distracted in indulgences like an overly sentimental score of piano tinkling and multiple music montages of questionable narrative necessity. As a result, the film becomes intensely individual as a portrait of two specific people when broader dynamics would widen its empathetic accessibility.” Culture Crypt

“Gardner and Grant share a great sense of chemistry between them, and I enjoyed getting to see them really dig into these characters and the partnership that they share in a way that feels completely authentic. Some folks might be looking for a bit more monster-fueled fun than we get in Something Else, but to me, just seeing Gardner and Grant in action was an even bigger draw, and they do not disappoint with their efforts here.” Daily Dead

” …creates empathetic characters who experience life in outrageous ways, but the viewer can relate to them. I cannot recommend this film enough. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be scared. Something Else is a hell of a love story and a nightmarish monster movie and an overall fantastical experience.” Dread Central

” …it really is not a monster movie. Well — it is, sure. There are a few scenes, and there is a monster, but not enough of it. It’s obvious the filmmakers know this, as the whole point of the film was to make something on a tiny budget and still make it a worthwhile watch. The rest of the scenes, and the interactions between Hank and his friends, are good. They’re funny. They’re honest.” First Showing

“The movie is definitely a horror story but it’s also quite the genre-bender. You’ll get drama and some off-beat comedy as well. Also, some impressively long scenes of people having honest and deep conversations. This might not sound all that great to you, but really, it is! Also, while Something Else is definitely a slow-burner the ending is absolutely brilliant.” Heaven of Horror

“Jeremy Gardiner and Christian Stella’s bold, brilliant genre mash-up is beautifully judged, romantic, suspenseful, comedic and dramatic. It also features the very best, not to mention the most hilarious, jump scare there’s been in a movie for years and the payoff is perfect.” The Horrorcist

“Co-director and lead actor Jeremy Gardner is a class act. Like his earlier genre film The Battery, After Midnight is a low-fi broadcast on the late-night airwaves of Radio Catharsis. At odds with his own bombastic personality, it is an artistic groove that cares more about the organics of empathy than the flash-fuckery of cinematic flexing.” The People’s Movies

“It’s hands down one of the best films of the year thus far with a charming story about love, loss, and yes… even monsters. The perfect trifecta that delivers charismatic performances and a feeling of uncertainty lurking around every corner.” Pop Horror

If you liked The Battery and the films of Benson and Moorhead then After Midnight should appeal to you. I did like it, though I wish there had been a little more horror worked into the mix. It’s just a little too much of a drama and lacks a scene like the car sequence in The Battery to balance out the genres.” Voices from the Balcony

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Release:

Having been acquired by Cranked Up, a division of Good Deed Entertainment, Something Else was renamed After Midnight. Cranked Up gave the movie a select theatrical run-out and VOD release on February 14, 2020, followed by a Blu-ray release on April 14, 2020.

In the UK, After Midnight was released as a Limited Edition Blu-ray by Arrow Video on 8th June 2020.

Limited to 2,500 units
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of After Midnight and Jeremy Gardner s first feature, The Battery available on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Reversible sleeve with a choice of artwork designs
Reversible fold-out poster
Limited edition collector s booklet containing new writing on After Midnight by William Dass and an archive piece on The Battery by Jeremy Gardner

Disc One:

Original 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo audio soundtracks
Audio commentary with directors Christian Stella and Jeremy Gardner
Lakeland Florida Q&A, featuring Stella, Gardner, actors Ashley Song, Nicola Masciotra and Taylor Zaudtke, script supervisor Elise Stella and 2nd assistant director Juan Ortiz
Pitching Something Else, Stella and Gardner pitch the character of Wade to Henry Zebrowski. Featuring an intro by producer Aaron Moorhead
Self-Interview – brand new interview with actor and producer Justin Benson, recorded exclusively for this release
Brea and Barak find Fantastic Fest Scooters, actors Brea Grant and Barak Hardley hunt down scooters following the Fantastic Fest screening of After Midnight
Behind-the-scenes featurette
Outtakes
Behind-the-scenes image gallery
Official international and UK trailers

Disc Two:

Original stereo audio
Audio commentary featuring writer, director and actor Jeremy Gardner, producer and actor Adam Cronheim and director of photography Christian Stella
The Making of The Battery, feature-length 90-minute documentary on the making of the film
Featurette on the music of The Battery
Outtakes
Theatrical trailer

Cast and characters:

Related:

The Battery (2012)

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