Read Time:2 Minute, 7 Second
Kids are often more observant than grown-ups—more tuned-in to the people and the things around them. But in the drama Beyond the Night, a special little boy isn’t just observant. He has a strong connection to things he’s never even seen—and it could help to solve a long-cold case.
Beyond the Night tells the story of Ray (Zane Holtz), a soldier who returns home from deployment after his wife is in a tragic accident. As he deals with his grief, he leaves the city and returns to his family’s home in a small mountain town with his young son, Lawrence (Azhy Robertson). The adjustments are already challenging enough for the father and son, but when Lawrence starts talking about people and memories that he should know nothing about—including a teenage girl who went missing before he was born—it causes problems in the small town.
This intriguing indie follows a group of careworn characters as they work through troubling times. Ray is forced to make a quick transition from active duty with the military to mourning the death of his wife, while, at the same time, caring for a heartbroken son who already faces his own challenges because of the birthmark that covers much of his face. Ray definitely struggles with the adjustment, and his fears and frustrations are understandable. Lawrence, too, is a sweet kid who’s just trying to adjust to a completely new way of life—and his quiet sadness will break your heart.
But the pair’s challenges increase exponentially when Lawrence speaks up and ends up attracting the attention of the small town crime boss—the one that the rest of the people in town try to avoid, if at all possible. And here’s where the story takes an eerie turn.
The mystery that follows is a simple—and somewhat superficial—one. The outcome isn’t especially surprising, and the path the story takes to get there is rather straightforward. And while the tone is tense and eerie, with plenty of small-town drama and intrigue, none of it is really explored in much depth. It’s a fascinating start to a story, but it feels like it merely scratches the surface.
Beyond the Night is an engaging drama about grief and loss and family. While the story isn’t quite as powerful as it could be, the likable characters still make it a mysterious indie that’s worth seeking out.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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