The Night Owl
The Night Owl

Movie spotlight

The Night Owl

2022
Movie
118 min
Korean

Korea, 1645 - Joseon Dynasty: a partially blind and gifted acupuncturist, Gyeong-su, is invited to work alongside the royal physician in the palace of King Injo, just before the crown prince Sohyeon returns after having been held captive by the Qing Dynasty. Prince Sohyeon and his father begin to differ in opinion on the future direction of their dynasty, leading King Injo to suffer from severe anxiety and paranoia. One night, Gyeong-su witnesses prince Sohyeon's death. Disbelieved as a witness on account of his blindness, Gyeong-su must struggle to reveal the truth while not falling prey to the power-hungry conspirators of the palace.

Insights

IMDb4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes20%
Metacritic35/100
Google Users45%
Director: R.D. KevalaGenres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Plot Summary

A group of college students decides to document their experiences in a supposedly haunted inn for a documentary. As they delve deeper into the inn's dark past, they awaken a malevolent entity that begins to torment them one by one. The line between their film project and horrifying reality blurs as they fight for survival against the supernatural forces trapping them within the inn.

Critical Reception

The Night Owl received mixed to negative reviews, with critics often citing its predictable plot and underdeveloped characters as significant drawbacks. While some appreciated the atmospheric tension and attempts at traditional horror scares, many found the execution lacking and derivative of more successful genre films. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with some enjoying the jump scares and suspense, while others were disappointed by the film's reliance on horror clichés.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film struggles with an uninspired script and predictable scares.

  • Despite a few tense moments, it fails to offer anything new to the horror genre.

  • Performances are adequate but cannot elevate the weak material.

Google audience: Audiences found 'The Night Owl' to be a serviceable but unmemorable horror flick. Many appreciated the creepy atmosphere and jump scares, finding it a decent watch for a casual horror night. However, a significant portion of viewers were let down by the predictable storyline, cliché characters, and a lack of genuine originality, feeling it didn't stand out from other haunted house movies.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location at a historic, reportedly haunted inn in rural Pennsylvania, with some cast and crew members reporting unusual occurrences during production.

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