FrightFest Review: 3rd Night (2017)

Jonathan and Meagan have just moved into a new house, one out in an orchid away from city life, unaware they are being watched...

There must be something in the Australian water right now. Their horror cinema output recently has been really impressive. 3rd Night continues that trend.

Writer and director Adam Graveley has crafted a tense little tale, one where he builds the tension slowly throughout, tightening the screw, right up to the ending. Cleverly as the tension rises, as the couple realise something is wrong, instead of getting closer, instead the relationship is fracturing as the husband, Jonathan, believes he can protect them, while Meagan crumbles under the pressure.

There's little violence in the film but what there is, is brutal at times, but never gratuitous. But the film is, perhaps, more interested in how a happy couple react to the situation they are in, with someone terrorising them, for as far as they can tell, no reason at all.

To add to the mystery are two friends, an older man and teen, hanging out in the woods. Graveley uses them to add touches of humour to the film and also not reveal their role in the story is until late on.

The leads are terrific. Jesse McGinn and Robert Hartman convince as Meagan and Jonathan both as the happy couple at the beginning and then later on as tension grows between them as they are under threat.  Bruce Denny and Connor Gosatti are good too as the friends in the wood.

While there is a lot to like here, there were a couple of issues. While at the end we get an idea of who is responsible and the reasons why, in truth I'm not totally convinced it works.  And the ending feels slightly off before that, perhaps missing something. This could be with the intention of a follow-up film that takes the story further.

If that is the case, I actually don't mind that. 3rd Night (the film takes place over 3 nights, hence the title) is a small but well made film, tense throughout and one that I found interesting and enjoyable.

Not too bad at all.

Rating - 3/5