The Night Listener
The Night Listener

The Night Listener

2006Movie91 minEnglish

In the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan—a young boy—via the telephone. But when questions about the boy's identity come up, the host's life is thrown into chaos.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes37%
Metacritic44/100
Google Users60%
Director: David LynchGenres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Plot Summary

A popular radio host, Gabriel Noone, becomes engrossed in the life of a young boy he interviews on his show, who claims to have suffered horrific abuse. As their connection deepens, Noone begins to suspect the boy's stories might be fabricated and that he's being drawn into a disturbing psychological game.

Critical Reception

The Night Listener received mixed to negative reviews from critics. While Robin Williams's performance was often singled out for praise, the film's plot was frequently criticized for being convoluted, slow-paced, and ultimately unsatisfying. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating the psychological tension and others finding the narrative frustrating.

What Reviewers Say

  • Robin Williams delivers a compelling performance that anchors the film.
  • The movie's plot is often criticized for its meandering and confusing narrative.
  • The film struggles to balance its thriller elements with its dramatic aspirations.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a slow burn with a performance from Robin Williams that stood out, though many felt the story didn't fully deliver on its premise and could be disappointing.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of radio host Michael Krasny and a listener named Perry Smith, though significant fictional elements were added for the screenplay.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

As for Pete, there's a line in the Velveteen Rabbit that reads... Real isn't how you were made. It's the thing that happens to you. I'm Gabriel Noone. Goodnight. Well I can add The Night Listener to my list of films that I believe are c...