MOVIE REVIEW: We keep the lights on to watch horror-thriller 'The Nightman'

Slow-burn, simple tale tests the nerves but won't give you bad dreams.

Mélanie Delloye’s second feature film is a horror-thriller set in Ireland.

Zara Devlin stars as Alex , who is troubled by her boyfriend Damian’s (Mark Huberman) behaviour when they move to his mum’s isolated house on the edge of the woods.

Delloye co-wrote the script with Elsa Marpeau and it’s a relatively simple tale with a small cast.

The home where much of the events take place has lush green surroundings hampered by constant mist and the presence of historic ruins.

The house is full of old-fashioned decor and tat, along with animal skins that give things an uncomfortable edge, and regularly only lit by the sun, moon and candles.

Delloye has a simple shooting style that is very crisp and concise but the sedate nature of events may have benefited from a little more creativity behind the camera.

Devlin and Huberman put everything into emotive stories that bookend the movie and their differing reactions to a missing person sets off a series of clashes that includes Damian’s heated response following a visit to his mum (Maeve Leonard).

Damian has an air of oddness to him from an early point, heightened by other people’s reactions to him and his nighttime habits.

A sinister trio living in the woods adds to the lurking menace amid the sound of gun shots rattling the newly arrived couple.

Sniping and accusations end up becoming almost exclusive dialogue between Alex and Damian as it becomes ever more difficult to see their relationship enduring their experiences.

Delloye’s flick is slow-burn and more of an unravelling macabre mystery than pure horror.

Some of the answers served up are kept vague but you just go with it as things culminate in an unnerving, enclosed face-off.

The Nightman won’t give you bad dreams but gets under your skin enough to warrant thinking twice about spending time near the woods.

● Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.

Caroline Martin said: “You should give Adolescence on Netflix a watch.

“It’s really powerful stuff and sees another great performance from Stephen Graham.”

● The Nightman is available to buy or rent on Sky Store.

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