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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Night World remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like they were made in a caffeine-fueled haze over a long weekend, then yes. It’s a total mess, but a fun one. If you need a movie with a clear plot or characters who make logical decisions, you should probably skip this. It's strictly for the folks who want to see 1930s excess without any of the moral hand-wringing.
The whole thing feels like a fever dream. The camera just kind of wanders around the nightclub, catching bits of conversations and people spilling drinks. It feels remarkably loose.
Boris Karloff shows up, and honestly, he looks like he’s having the time of his life. He isn't playing a monster here, just a guy running a club who seems to have seen way too much. There’s a specific scene where he’s just staring into the distance while a jazz band plays something frantic, and you can tell he’s completely checked out of reality.
The pacing is a disaster, but in a good way. It zooms from a romantic subplot to a mob shakedown in about three seconds. It reminds me of the frenetic energy you see in The Revolt, just way louder and with more gin.
There's this moment where a character just walks out of the club and into the sunrise, and the movie acts like that’s a normal way to end a story. No big speech. No resolution. Just a guy walking into the morning light while the credits start rolling. It’s jarring.
If you’ve seen The Way of Lost Souls, you’ll recognize that same sense of people just floating through a world that doesn't really want them. Except here, everyone is dressed in tuxedos and sequins while they do it. It’s all very shiny and sad at the same time. 🥂
I don't think the writers actually knew how to end the movie. They just sort of ran out of film. It’s strangely refreshing.