It takes some teenage guile to escape a witch
Nightbooks is a greatest hits of scary stories wrapped in a super meta format. The movie begins with Alex (Come Play’s Winslow Fegley), a weirdo who is obsessed with frightening tales. He has loved them for as long as he can remember and often writes plenty of his own. When no one shows up for his birthday party, he is broken hearted and gathers his most valued possessions as he flees his parents’ apartment. He enters the elevator which mysteriously stops on an unnumbered floor that opens to a strange environment.
Alex soon realizes that he is trapped in an apartment he doesn’t recognize. He attempts to escape, only to come face to face with three challenges. The opening only puts him right back in the apartment. His roommate is a hairless, sometimes invisible cat with a lousy temperament, and finally, his hostess is a witch who makes him an offer. Write her a new story every night, or face death (or even worse.)
No sooner does Alex try to tap into his writing skills than he discovers he is not alone. Yasmine (Lidya Jewett (Good Girls)) is responsible for housekeeping and meal prep. It’s a thankless job and her self-esteem has clearly been eroded by the witch. She is hardly more than a ghost herself. She manages to introduce Alex to the library, which creates a spark in his storytelling and opens up the entire plotline to every clue and red herring yet to be revealed.
Nightbooks is based on the book by J.A.White. It’s teen-friendly while having plenty of twists and turns that keep the viewer/reader guessing at the origin of the witch and how to counter her magic. The film reveals all these triggers in a true three-act format. The story is well-paced and it puts the characters through their reveals and revelations with expert timing.
The visuals are a true aspect where Nightbooks differentiates itself from a traditional horror flick. Krysten Ritter changes her rocker leathers and combat boots from her role as Jessica Jones to full on platform drag queen boots and feathers. She becomes an extravagant witch with fake eyelashes, rainbow clothes and long nails.
The set design continues the aesthetic of Ritter’s witch. There are tons of day glow shots, smoke machines, and backlit set pieces to keep the viewer eyeing every corner. Nightbooks is akin to Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story. Where the former embraces its history in The Lost Boys and Concrete Blonde, the later went full Steampunk.
Nightbooks is very well written. It builds over the first hour and the payoff in the final act delivers in spades. Ignore the obvious CGI effects and a couple of writing shortcuts, and enjoy the way that Ritter fully embraces her witch’s sass. Watch Jewett and Fegley as they seem to mature right in front of you. This movie wraps a ton into an hour and seventeen minutes. Listen for the one liners. Rest assured that this is all coming to a very satisfying end because it definitely does.
Nightbooks is available to stream on Netflix. Welcome to Spooktober 2021, everyone!