Horror Movie Review: He Kills at Night (2025)

How is it that a film that takes place mostly in a car, with occasional steps into the dark countryside of rural Britain, is more festive looking and feeling then many actual horrors that have Santa or Christmas front and centre? Whatever you think about the horror and thriller aspects of He Kills at Night, nobody can deny that it’s a film with Christmas running through it like a thick vein.

Directed by Thomas Pickering, written by James Pickering, and starring Levi Heaton and Richard Galloway. He Kills at Night begins in September, as a woman is abducted in the darkness of a quiet indoor car park by someone unseen. As the credits play, we hear news bulletins and radio chatter revealing that a suspected serial killer is on the loose and the authorities are ramping up their attempts to capture this person as the festive period arrives.

In fact, it’s Christmas Eve night and on a dark and snowy road in rural England, Marie is about to have a really bad time. Well, an even worse time as when we meet her, she has been through hell, seemingly, and her face is battered and bruised. She is forced to stop when she comes across an abandoned car, and the very dangerous Alan emerges from the shadows and forces her to help him escape the law and get out of the country.

Marie has a family though and having suffered greatly at the hands of others already, isn’t as willing to let Alan have his way. Which is about as far as I’m willing to go with this description without revealing the film’s secrets, and it has many. Not only keeping the viewer guessing as to the events that may transpire as the film goes on but keeping the viewer guessing as to who these two people actually are. Nobody is quite who they seem, and this mystery is kept hidden right up to the last moment.

It’s a suspenseful experience that builds the psychological horror to breaking point and, impressively, does most of this with just two people and within the confines of a car. Alan is in the backseat, large knife in hand, plying Marie for information, refusing to give an inch, and goading her in sinister fashion. The initial dynamic has him in the dominant position, but as the film goes on, things shift and we see just how strong, and dangerous, a person Marie is. She’s clearly a damaged person, but she’s also used to dealing with manipulation, abuse, and threats. Especially when it comes from a man.

It makes her such a compelling character, and Levi Heaton is outstanding in the role. Whereas Richard Galloway’s detachment, sinister tone, and increasing paranoia makes his character equally compelling. Even if, as the viewer, every time Marie gets one over him, you can’t help but cheer.

Alas, come the end, there is nothing to cheer about and even the bright lights and festive music won’t be able to pull you out of the funk the mind has sunk too. It’s an incredibly effective experience. Merry freaking Christmas, indeed.