One of the most thought-provoking films from Netflix, Night Always Comes explores the challenges and hardships of keeping a family together. While trying to maintain a home, bad choices are made and revisited. Directed by Benjamin Caron, the film reveals the pattern of sacrifice as the clock keeps ticking. Moments of precious time cause viewers to hearts to ache. This film is a realistic portrait of the anxiety created when awaiting consequences.

The film’s main character is Lynette, played by Vanessa Kirby. Her brother is Kenny, played by Zack Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome. The mother is Doreen, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Lynette has a past with drugs and working in escort services, but she has a desire to start a new life for her brother. With her mother not supportive of the idea, Lynette finds herself in a place where eviction is bound to happen. Her mom does not care what happens, but Lynette does. With a limited amount of time to secure a huge amount of money to avoid living on the streets, Lynette finds herself having to revisit her dark past to make ends meet.

The film becomes a gripping odyssey of layers of darkness that is anxiety-provoking. It is not a positive storyline, but the film is faithful to its portrait of consequences. The moving parts involving prior choices and efforts to climb back out of the darkness results in a subtle tone in Night Always Comes. Every choice or decision that Lynette makes comes with a corresponding consequence. This leads her to retrace her negative influences from back in the day. One of these former influences is Tom, played by Michael Kelly, who is a drug dealer who had Lynette doing tasks in trafficking scenarios. The life that Lynette wanted out of slowly comes back up to the surface. With her brother living in fear, and her desperation to save her house, the evening hours are filled with uncharted territory and a host of new choices with associated new beginnings. They are not light decisions, but audiences will feel immersed in the uncertainty of the outcomes.

What is so unique about Night Always Comes is how it has momentum but remains quiet while also suspenseful. The writing and scenarios feel approachable in part because Kirby’s role is very emotional. The fact that it is a sister doing what she feels is best for her brother is the highlight of this film. Night Always Comes keeps the question of what is going to happen next at the top of audiences’ minds. There is no clear end in sight.

This movie is a hard watch but worth it for those who can handle the nature of the events. The subject of a sister trying to help her brother who has disabilities played a huge role in my appreciation for Night Always Comes. The sacrifices Lynette is willing to make shine through in Kirby’s performance. The obliviousness of the mother is highlighted in Leigh’s performance. A caring sister and an absentee mother makes for adynamic duo that boggles the mind in this film. Three out of four stars for Night Always Comes.