The Midnight Man

The film isn't terrible, more so the basic premise.

I found myself just constantly asking questions as nothing made sense.

The main question being, why would ANYONE play this "game"? There seems to be no benefit to anyone playing, even if they win?

4 -

I already knew, even before watching it, that this was a pretty bad movie, but I didn't expect it to take itself so seriously since the beginning. And with all that, the acting was kinda crap and the story was one of the most recycled plots of all time. But the main issue with this movie is definitely the horror factor, because believe me, there's basically none : the entity is just lame and keeps talking throughout the film, shutting down any feeling of distress or fear the public could have towards it. Even the jumpscares were the most idiotics I've seen in a long time, definitely lazy and predictable to me, and i'm not even a jumpscare fan.

Easily avoidable, save your time

Wow did this movie manage to hit a lot of pet peeves with me. It's not well acted, it's got a LOT of really convoluted and seemingly nonsensical rules, characters are wildly stupid or just immediately buy into this supernatural horror story for seemingly no apparent reason and worst of all, this seems like it could actually be an entertaining concept. I like the idea of the Midnight Man, but this delivery was awful to me. I suppose, as a caveat I should say that I didn't know until after the movie that this was based on a legit urban legend. Maybe if I'd grown up with this or ever heard it before it would've made a little more sense but even so, it doesn't change the overwhelming stupidity of these characters.

I really can't imagine ever recommending this to anyone that doesn't enjoy bad horror movies, I know those people are out there. To everyone else, there are much better movies, go watch one of them and let this slip through the cracks. Maybe someday someone will try their hand at this again and make a better version.

What is the mark of a good horror movie (hell, a good movie PERIOD)? Does it pull you out of your shitty reality for a while and entertain the crap out of you. That's the formula. In that regard, I have no complaints about "The Midnight Man".

You have Robert Englund and Lin Shaye together again. He is mesmerizing as always and she is creepier than the titular Midnight Man himself. You can't go wrong there.

Are there plot holes and times when the suspension of disbelief wavers a bit? Sure. However, they did such a good job with the atmosphere and effects, generally speaking, that you really don't get too put out by this. At least, I didn't.

I have no reservations about recommending this one. It's worth an hour and a half of your life.

Today people tend to claim a movie is a masterpiece and cinematic triumph or it is a total disaster, the worst movie I ever watched etc. The Midnight Man imho does not belong in either category, it is a small horror movie with a story-line based on a game that evokes a dark, evil entity and the price of the game is one's life and if one loses the game you get a fine cruel death. (Well, some dark souls could rightfully argue that a cruel death is still a kind of good reward, because, you know, who wants to die a common, total boring death!?)

So, in short, for sure there is nothing new in the western front, but what we get are decent actors (Lin Shaye, Robert Englund, also the young actors do not disappoint) and a good production value with some nice value of gore and splatter and a good, dark atmosphere and a very bad guy.

Yes, this movie is no Oscar material or made to be someday called cvlt, but The Midnight Man is a pro made movie and imo for the aficionado of horror a good snack in-between. My rate 5, maybe a 6.