Gone in the Night (2022)

Gone in the Night has the kind of hook thrillers dream of: a quiet redwoods cabin, an uneasy shared stay with strangers, and a disappearance that turns ordinary awkwardness into a tightening coil of dread. It’s a twisty, original mystery that keeps reshaping what you think you know, not through cheap shocks but through a steadily escalating sense that something is profoundly off. Winona Ryder anchors the film with a gripping, lived-in intensity, and the well-cast ensemble—Dermot Mulroney especially—helps the story feel grounded even as it grows stranger. If you like your thrillers lean, talky, and puzzle-box curious rather than action-heavy, this is a fun, engaging ride that rewards sticking with it.

Gone in the Night wants to be a twisty, redwoods-set mystery about betrayal and paranoia, with a slow-burn vibe that keeps you guessing. The problem is it often feels like it’s guessing too—plot threads pile up, the storytelling gets messy, and what’s meant to be shocking can come off more absurd than satisfying. If you need tight logic, coherent character motivations, and a payoff that clicks into place, this will likely test your patience. Still, there’s a solid central performance and an eerie setup, so if you enjoy watching a mystery take big swings even when it doesn’t quite stick the landing, you may get something out of it.