Released in select theaters and to VOD on March 8, 2024 through Quiver Distribution, Night Shift marks the directorial debut of twin brothers Ben and Paul China; better known as The China Brothers.
An exciting time for these two aspiring filmmakers, who made the film over a few weeks during the peak of COVID, and celebrated a world premiere at the Mammoth Film Festival 2023 (where they won in the Best Genre Film category), Night Shift plays out as an intense Thriller that spans 82-minutes. Undoubtedly rivaling any modern film of its kind out there today, similar to an Alfred Hitchcock feature, you quickly realize you are entering the horror-scape of a very demented psychopath who has a seemingly docile exterior.
Effective in many ways, the dim lighting throughout Night Shift, matched with a strong original soundtrack (composed by Blitz Berlin who worked on the music for such films as 2017’s Blade Runner 2036: Nexus Dawn), lead you toward a free falling roller coaster visual experience. Furthermore, lightening the tension throughout, there is dark comic relief that comes in spurts at just the right moments.
Summing it up briefly, the lead character Gwen (Phoebe Tonkin: The Originals series, Bloom series) showcases highly evolved observational powers as she takes note of her surroundings. Less than average, it soon becomes obvious that Gwen is the epitome of Norman Bates from the Hitchcock 1960 classic Psycho. Giving a spot-on performance that keeps you curious, at the onset of Night Shift you might be led to believe that the shabby motel utilized as the backdrop of it all is haunted. Although, as the story moves forward, you begin to see Gwen is a bit off… and could possibly be prone to hallucinations.
Overall, the plot belies its sinister nature quite well and it is compelling to watch as all the pieces come together like a jigsaw puzzle! That in mind, there are certainly parallels between the aforementioned Psycho and Night Shift; this in terms of the eerie vibes surrounding them and each of the characters involved. Furthermore, the final scene in Night Shift, while puzzling, leaves you yearning for more. Why? Because it leaves room for more storytelling… leading you to wonder if a prequel or sequel is potentially in the works. In all, the cinematic craftsmanship of The China Brothers entices you to learn more about Gwen. Such as… exactly how did this psychopath come to be, but more so, what happens next? Simply a surprising little film that is well worth the time to check out, Cryptic Rock gives Night Shift 5 out of 5 stars.
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