Night Has Come delivers a chilling blend of psychological horror and survival suspense, set within the seemingly ordinary confines of a high school retreat. In this review, we explore how the series turns a classic party game into a deadly, paranoia-fueled battle for survival—elevated by haunting visuals, strong performances, and a premise that keeps viewers questioning what’s real and who can be trusted.
Review
Night Has Come is a bold psychological thriller that merges high school drama with survival-game horror, crafting a tense narrative that keeps viewers on edge. Set during a school retreat, the story unfolds as a group of second- and third-year students receives mysterious messages assigning them roles in a seemingly harmless Mafia game. However, what begins as a traditional pastime quickly spirals into a deadly contest—each elimination resulting in a gruesome and very real death.
What sets this series apart is its meticulous control of atmosphere. Dimly lit halls, flickering lights, and a growing sense of claustrophobia build a visual landscape soaked in dread. The production design complements the plot's descent into paranoia and fear, making every scene feel as if it's teetering on the edge of chaos. The death sequences are particularly notable—not only for their creativity and shock value but for how they reflect the psychological disintegration of the group.
Lee Jae-in delivers a standout performance as Lee Yoon-seo, a quiet but astute student whose analytical mind becomes crucial in deciphering the deadly logic behind the game. Her portrayal brings depth and resilience to a role that could easily have fallen into cliché. She is supported ably by Kim Woo-seok and Choi Ye-bin, whose characters provide both emotional tension and moments of brief reprieve from the escalating terror.
Narratively, Night Has Come moves at a fast clip, propelling viewers from one shocking revelation to the next. Its structure—unfolding over several "nights"—enhances the sense of urgency while allowing time for character dynamics to shift and evolve. However, the show occasionally struggles with coherence, particularly in the first few episodes where character decisions can feel inconsistent or inadequately motivated.
The finale has proven divisive. While some praise its ambition and thematic payoff, others may find it abrupt or overly abstract. Still, it provokes discussion, which speaks to the strength of the show's concept and execution.
Night Has Come is a gripping, stylistically rich thriller that succeeds in blending psychological horror with the high-stakes mechanics of survival storytelling. It may not offer all the answers, but its chilling atmosphere, sharp performances, and unpredictable narrative make it one of the more daring and distinctive genre entries in recent memory.
Information
Night Has Come is a 2023 South Korean teen mystery thriller directed by Lim Dae‑woong and written by Kang Min‑ji, based on a tense “mafia game” gone deadly. It aired on U+ Mobile TV from December 4–21, 2023, with 12 episodes (~35 min each), and is available on Netflix (KR), Viki, and Viu internationally. The cast includes Lee Jae‑in, Kim Woo‑seok, Choi Ye‑bin, Cha Woo‑min, Ahn Ji‑ho, and Jung So‑ri.
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