Notable Cast: Jeremy Gardner, Brea Grant, Justin Benson, Henry
Zebrowski, Ashley Song, Nicola Masciotra
Any self-respecting cinephile that cares about films gets
excited when two creative forces team up on a new film. Whether it’s actors and
actresses, directors, cinematographers, or any other namesake, the idea of the
“supergroup” collaborating on a film is incredibly enticing. This is why After
Midnight was a must-see film for me at Telluride Horror Show. Although I am
not a particular fan of horror-comedy in general, the combination of writer/director
Jeremy Gardner (this time co-directing with Christian Stella) and the producing
duo of Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson (directors of the phenomenal The
Endless and Spring) was too salivating to pass up. The results are After
Midnight, a dramedy with a penchant for some horror set pieces to parallel the
emotional state of our lead couple. The film is a sure-fire crowd pleaser and the
audience that I saw it with was eating the comedy, drama, and horror up enthusiastically.
With a heartfelt relationship to ground the film, some remarkably charming secondary
characters, and a silly horror premise that could have worked on its own, After
Midnight is a strange buffet of genre and execution – that could only be
pulled off by the talent behind it.