MovieChat Forums > Dead of Night (1946) Discussion > Dead of Night - in daytime???

Dead of Night - in daytime???

posted 11 years ago by SeanJoyce
3 replies | jump to latest

Very well-made and influential early horror anthology that I don't regret dropping a pretty penny on.

I will express my displeasure, however, with the fact that the majority of the movie transpires while sunlight still streams in through the window. What's that all about? It really undermined the film's creepy, unsettling atmosphere established in the stories.

Wouldn't it have been preferable for the guests to show up at the house, get acquainted, and engage one another in mini-discussions before "getting down to it"? Not only would we have been afforded a glimpse into their minds, but more importantly, it would have allowed time for things to "darken up" for story time. A pitch black room illuminated only by fire light is the ideal setting for such a set-up.

It is dark outside for the climax, but other than to indicate a passage of time (which is unnecessary), I can't figure out why this was done in that fashion. The film is called Dead of Night, and strangers sharing their eerie encounters in the "dead of night" would have given this fine horror showcase an even greater touch of class.

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[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

The other thing that hurts the atmosphere is the sheer amount of idle chatter constantly coming out of these somewhat strangely chipper characters´ mouths - there´s much too much talk and mostly in such a key that´s in opposition with the attempts to create something more creepy and eerie there. To me, the film only worked in fits and starts with the last 10 or so minutes being by far the most effective stretch (well, the hearse vignette did come relatively close though).

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] Hygrophonic 11 years ago

It's all about form and function. The interplay between darkness and the intertwining stories would only be enhanced if the directors specifically composed shots and angles for certain images: "Tactile" shadows, obscured faces, etc. With the way the film is composed now--flat, open scenery; stagy presentation--deliberate darkness wouldn't add value. I don't think its vacancy undermines the tone or effect.

[–] turkeycat 11 years ago

I think that the OP somewhat misses the point. This is a recurring dream, so it is probably being dreamed in the character's head... in the dead of night. His dream is presenting us with largely daylight scenes, but the dream itself is probably at night - so the title is bang on.

Also, regarding the idle chit-chat, don't our dreams normally combine the banal and the fearful...? I think the script gets this right too - our dreams are usually a mix of the surreal and the mundane.

And the golfing segment comes from one of the party who seeks to throw some ridicule upon the supernatural 'believers' - hence the flippant tone of the tale he tells - he is trying to make us not believe by telling something stupid instead. (Although I admit that it does stand apart from the other segments somewhat).

turkeycat