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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:
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