Night Moves
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Radical-environmentalism drama is thoughtful, slightly edgy.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Night Moves
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Three radical environmentalists prepare for the protest of their lives. Josh (Jesse Eisenberg) works on a produce-delivery farm; he's extremely private and pensive. Dena (Dakota Fanning) is a former rich girl disgusted with consumer society. And Harmon (Peter Sarsgaard) is an ex-Marine who seems to love blowing things up. Their target is a hydroelectric dam in Oregon; they hope its destruction will send a message about the rampant devouring of natural resources. Unfortunately, their act has unforeseen consequences, which leaves the trio newly examining their motives, messages, and indeed their very lives.
Is It Any Good?
Director Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy, Meek's Cutoff) is one of the smartest around, capable of telling simple stories with great stretches of moody, thoughtful exploration. A frequent criticism is that "nothing happens" in her movies, which, for a patient viewer, simply isn't true. In those quiet scenes, life itself can be found.
Night Moves is one of her most complex works yet, generating a slow-burning suspense. It focuses on characters who are hard to get at and hard to read. In one scene, Josh arrives to discover the sounds of Dena and Harmon inside a trailer giggling playfully. Are they making love? Is he jealous? Reichardt leaves these questions unanswered, using them simply to build tension. The eco-terrorist act itself is likewise confounding, not providing any kind of answer but simply more questions. What did they accomplish? Is a message more important than an idea? Most importantly, however, the concept of human life seems to trump everything.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Night Moves' destructive act of radical environmentalism. Was it right, wrong, or something in between? What if no one had been hurt?
How does the movie generate suspense while still moving relatively slowly? What did you see that created tension?
What does the movie have to say about food? What ideas did you come away with? Do you enjoy movies that make you think?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 30, 2014
- On DVD or streaming: September 2, 2014
- Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Fanning
- Director: Kelly Reichardt
- Studio: Cinedigm
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Science and Nature
- Run time: 112 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some language and nudity
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate