Parents' Guide to Alone at Night

Movie NR 2023 90 minutes
Alone at Night Movie: Poster - Ashley Benson peers, frightened, between what appears to be purple curtains

Common Sense Media Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson By Jeffrey M. Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Flashy but empty horror/mystery has sex and drugs.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Alone at Night Trailer
  • Alone at Night Movie: Ashley Benson, in a purple wig, relaxes in a bath, with candles
  • Alone at Night Movie: Ashley Benson, at the front door of the house at night, is unaware of a figure standing just above her on the roof
  • Alone at Night Movie: Ashley Benson, in a purple wig, appears terrified as she makes a phone call

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In ALONE AT NIGHT, Vicky (Ashley Benson) is a web-cammer who's just been dumped by her boyfriend and has no place to live. It's the early days of COVID, and a friend lets Vicky stay in her remote cabin in Weed, California, where Vicky plans to recuperate and try to earn some money. She also passes the time by watching a new COVID-based reality show hosted by Paris Hilton. Unfortunately, the internet keeps going out, unexpected guests keep dropping by, and one of her clients is starting to become a little too stalker-y. To top things off, a serial killer who favors doing victims in with a crowbar is on the loose.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Made in the self-aware, meta-style of the Scream movies, this slasher/whodunit has some wit and vigor, but in the end it's all flash, not dissimilar from the vapid reality show it purports to parody. Resilient but vulnerable, Benson is very likable as the main character in Alone at Night, and she goes a long way in carrying it. There's also a strong sense of the sadness and deception of the webcam industry, although one custoer of Vicky's (played by Luis Guzman) is uncharacteristically happy, pleased to simply chat with her, tell her how beautiful she is, and teach her how to dance (he really just wants to re-kindle his relationship with his wife). But when it comes to the thriller stuff, Alone at Night sets itself up as a brutal slasher (albeit one with awful shaky-cam action) and then makes viewers wait as it turns into a half-baked "mystery." Additionally, while the Paris Hilton reality show angle is an obnoxiously effective parody, it ultimately has little to nothing to do with the rest of the movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Alone at Night's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • How does the movie depict sex workers? What are its attitudes toward real-life sex? What values are imparted?

  • Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes like to be scared?

  • How does the movie depict the COVID-19 pandemic? Is it interesting to see it in movies, or would you rather not think about it? Why?

  • How do the Trap House reality show and the movie itself tie together? What do you think the movie is trying to say?

Movie Details

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Alone at Night Movie: Poster - Ashley Benson peers, frightened, between what appears to be purple curtains

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