It Comes at Night (2017)

Overview

"It Comes at Night" (2017) is an American psychological horror film written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, his second feature after his debut "Krisha". The film stars Joel Edgerton and Christopher Abbott.

The story is set in a world stricken by a mysterious plague. A family hides out in a remote house in the woods, following strict safety rules to avoid infection. When another family seeking shelter arrives at their door, the two groups are forced to live together — and the undefined external threat gradually gives way to the real horror: suspicion, paranoia, and mutual distrust between people. The film's title does not refer to a specific monster — the "it" is fear, which turns people into monsters.

Critics described the film as an exercise in claustrophobia and tension: a bleak, slowly building horror drama that avoids conventional jump scares in favor of psychological pressure and an ambiguous ending. The film was released wide on June 9, 2017, through the indie distributor A24 and received mildly positive reviews for its direction, atmosphere, and cinematography.