The Unyielding Shadow: Why 'Night Always Comes' Fails to Find the Light, Even with Vanessa Kirby's Brilliance

In the desolate landscape of modern crime dramas, some films strive for gritty realism, others for pulse-pounding thrills. Then there's "Night Always Comes," a film that seems to exist solely to submerge its audience in an unrelenting, oppressive gloom. From its opening frames, it makes clear its intentions: to be a harrowing journey into the darkest corners of human desperation.

While it certainly achieves that, one can't help but wonder, at what cost?

The undisputed beacon in this otherwise murky affair is Vanessa Kirby. As Lena, she delivers a performance of raw, visceral intensity. Every tremor of fear, every flicker of defiance in her eyes, is utterly captivating.

She imbues Lena with a fragile strength that makes you root for her, even as the narrative seems hell-bent on dragging her, and us, deeper into the mire. It's a testament to Kirby's formidable talent that she manages to maintain a semblance of watchability amidst the film's pervasive bleakness, a performance that truly deserved a more deserving canvas.

Regrettably, Kirby's brilliance is largely in vain.

"Night Always Comes" is a narrative steeped in misery, following Lena's desperate attempts to escape a life spiraling out of control after a tragic event. The plot is less a tightly woven tapestry of suspense and more a series of increasingly grim episodes, each one more soul-crushing than the last.

The film revels in its grim aesthetic, using muted color palettes and suffocating close-ups to emphasize the suffocating despair. But this commitment to bleakness often tips into tedium, mistaking unrelenting darkness for profound depth.

The pacing is a particular sticking point, a slow, deliberate crawl that amplifies the film's oppressive atmosphere but frequently sacrifices narrative momentum.

Characters emerge and recede with little lasting impact, often feeling like mere conduits for plot points rather than fully realized individuals. The dialogue, while sometimes poignant, too often veers into the overtly melodramatic or frustratingly vague, leaving viewers searching for a clearer emotional anchor.

Director Julian Vance seems so committed to the film's grim tone that he forgets to inject any genuine tension or compelling mystery, leaving the audience with a sense of weariness rather than suspense.

Ultimately, "Night Always Comes" is a taxing experience that offers little in the way of catharsis or insight.

It's a film that demands much from its viewers – patience, resilience, and a high tolerance for despair – but offers precious little in return. While Vanessa Kirby shines brightly as the film's sole redeeming quality, her light is not enough to pierce the impenetrable darkness that defines this crime drama.

It’s a stark reminder that sometimes, the night really does just keep coming, with no dawn in sight.