An Amazon Studios Picture, Written and Directed by Zu Quirke.
In the second wave of their ‘Welcome to Blumhouse’ launch, Amazon will drop the psychological horror film ‘Nocturne’, which is certainly an improvement on ‘The Lie’ but is still far from the heights we know Jason Blum’s production company can reach when it comes to horror films. The easiest way to classify it is that it very much feels like a cast off film tossed onto streaming because they didn’t feel it was strong enough to compete theatrically, as opposed to a movie that was specifically designed to thrive on streaming.
However, with all that said, it is not entirely negative, and I would say that it is an enjoyable movie in general. In many ways it actually operates as much more of a drama about a girl desperate to succeed in the world of classical music above all else. There are certainly horror elements, with some jump scares and fantastical elements thrown into the mix, but many of them fail to hit the spot as they often feel cliched, and it really does operate better as a character drama and a coming of age tale.
In tone at least (not quality) the film resembles a type of mix between Whiplash and Euphoria, and therefore it makes perfect sense to have cast Sydney Sweeney in the lead role. She plays a stand out supporting character in ‘Euphoria’ and has developed a huge fanbase online for not only her acting ability but her startling good looks. However, in this film she plays a much more stripped down character who struggles with her self confidence and dedicates everything in her life to making it as a musician despite always being in her sisters shadow. Sweeney is easily the best thing about this film, showing some really impressive range as an actress and proving that she could have a thriving career alongside and after ‘Euphoria’. Madison Iseman also has a key supporting role and does some impressive work herself, as the performances very much save what otherwise would have been a quite cliched film.
There are just a few moments throughout the film of real visual flourish that are so impressive that they almost feel out of place, and they do give the film an almost otherworldly feel at times. I think the opening and closing scenes are also very memorable and make up for some reasonably dull sequences in the middle.
If you are looking for a truly terrifying horror film to watch this spooky season, then I wouldn’t recommend this film. However, if you are looking for a coming of age drama with a popular actress and some horror elements, then I think you may find this genuinely enjoyable.
Rating = 3/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 