[FrightFest 2025]: He Kills At Night

Levi Heaton as Marie

Coming from Thomas and James Pickering, He Kills at Night is a thriller reaching for the kind-of impact that early John Carpenter had. A stripped back, brutal affair, and one that shows real ambition on the duo's part, even if it never quite reaches the kind of propulsive thrills the narrative is seeking.

The narrative is a simple one following a mother travelling home on Christmas Eve, whose car is commandeered by a serial killer on the run. As they drive through rural England, Marie must find a way out of her situation before she becomes his latest victim.

He Kills at Night is a hard right for the Pickering Brothers, with their previous film being the documentary I Could Never Go Vegan (2024). But it is interesting how often this horror finds itself seeking a similar modern relevance, from its treatment of its female characters to a narrative that takes in the small boats situation on the Channel. But it can’t help but feel exploitative, pulled from the headlines of the right-wing press. Even the film’s climax feels like it's tiptoeing into the manosphere. When coupled with the film’s callous violence, this all becomes a rather grim watch. 

Which is a shame as there are moments where this proves an effective horror watch, particularly in sequences of sustained dread and tension. As a director Thomas Pickering has a real eye. Added to this are a pair of very good performances at the film’s centre. Richard Galloway plays the part of the killer well, proving very capable at playing someone monstrous. But the film’s MVP is Levi Heaton, who gives a rich, nuanced turn. Heaton’s Marie is the most interesting thing about He Kills at Night, elevating moments and almost single-handedly stopping the film’s full slide into silliness. 

He Kills at Night has some real potential and enough juice to keep horror hounds engaged. But it can’t help but leave a nasty taste in the mouth with a tendency to punch down and chase headlines getting in the way of being a good Christmas horror.

2 Screams out of 5