Into the Night Review: Netflix’s Belgian Original is an Enthralling Thriller!

Allow me to set the mood before I give my honest review for Into the Night. Every passenger boarding a flight has a story of their own. Maybe they’re going on an exotic vacation after a busy week at work, or on their way to meet their loved ones for the first time in years or, on the other side traveling because of a medical emergency. Now, how would you feel when you’re on board and it might be the last trip you would ever take?

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Based on a Polish novel “The Old Axolotl” by Jacek Dukaj, the new Netflix Original – Into the Night premiered on May 1st, 2020, and went on to become a sleeper hit, trending on the Top 10 list for well over a week now.

Written by Jason George, Into the Night on Netflix is a six-episode series about a group of people on board Brussels Airlines, which was seemingly heading to Moscow, Russia. Eventually, the people onboard are informed by a NATO officer about an apocalypse where the Sun’s rays would kill people during the daylight hours, and forces the pilot to head west away from the sunlight.

Initially reluctant about his weird reasoning, the people on board think that they are being hijacked, but subsequently, they get to know the truth, and panic for their lives. The remainder of the narrative showcases how the passengers on board come together to save at least a handful of people amidst all the uncertain chaos.

The most significant and impressive aspect of Into the Night is that it is crisp and brief. With only six episodes in the first season, the narrative is racy and manages to maintain the momentum created in the beginning, till the very end. Most importantly, it doesn’t sidetrack from the primary objective and focuses entirely on telling a great and engaging story. And the apocalypse theme kept me on the edge-of-my-seat inside and out as I’m able to binge the entire season in one go.

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Into the Night also showcases how would a group of strangers behave during the time of a catastrophe or an emergency. What would people do for their own survival? Do we still maintain the quality of benevolence within us? With the real world already in crisis with COVID-19, we see people fighting and ragdolling each other over toilet paper, and other essentials. What if the situation is even more destructive, and would people from different nationalities work together?

From this series, as well as comparing it with the present situation (of Coronavirus), I would say that there are no such ideas as good or bad people. It is in the way you react to a situation that defines who you are. The way you perceive things and act for them shows the quality of your life. Some people go on complaining, and some people act accordingly to what is required. It all depends on the decisions you make when you’re confronted with a life-threatening situation.

With quite a few international actors playing as different nationals, they have done their part incredibly well. The way you connect with them and care about their characters says a lot about how well the characters are sketched, and how adequately the actors have done justice to the narrative.

What I like about a series more is how quickly you convey what you intend to describe rather than expanding it to ten episodes unless necessary. The makers’ ability to storytelling and exploring the difficulties of the characters through narration and visuals is nothing short of remarkable.

Technically, the entire series, for the most part, happens inside an Airbus A320, and the makers made sure that the audience also gets a first-hand experience of the events by making it seem and feel flawlessly authentic. The background score was apt, in tune with the nature of the series, and provided the required elevation when needed.

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Overall, Into the Night has a gripping story and narrates it under four hours, which is captivating to watch alongside the characters and their side of the storyline. It does a good job keeping us enthralled, and if you are someone who loves thrillers, then Into the Night is your right choice. With a subtle hint of Season 2 by the end, it should be interesting to see where the show goes from here. Watch ‘Into the Night’ on Netflix here.

Rating – 3.75/5 | Grade – B+

Images via Netflix