1. Plot Summary

Title: Tonight She Comes (2016)
Director / Writer: Matt Stuertz
IMDb
+2
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+2

Main Cast: Adam Hartley, Jenna McDonald, Frankie Ray, Dal Nicole, Larissa White, Nathan Eswine, Brock Russell, Cameisha Cotton
IMDb
+2
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+2

Where to Watch / Release Info: The film’s streaming release is listed as February 13, 2018 in the U.S.
IMDb
+1

Concise Plot (spoiler-light):
The film opens with Kristy (Dal Nicole) fleeing through the woods, her body already betraying grotesque signs of internal disturbance.
IMDb
+3
moviepooper.com
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3

Later, James, a mailman, is tasked with delivering a package to Kristy’s remote cabin. Arriving there, he finds no one home. Soon after, Kristy’s friends Ashley and Lyndsey show up to investigate her disappearance.
Bloody Flicks
+3
IMDb
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3

As the evening deepens, what begins as a typical “cabin in the woods” setup — drinking, flirting, uneasy glances — dissolves into a night of surreal horror. The missing Kristy returns as a terrifying, blood-soaked figure, violence escalates, secrets take strange turns, and supernatural ritual elements begin to bleed into the narrative.
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3
Bloody Flicks
+3

By the film’s end, the boundaries between monster and victim, rebirth and possession, are blurred — leaving the viewer with a finale that is visceral, chaotic, and ambiguous.
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+3
moviepooper.com
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3

Key Themes / Unique Aspects:

The film leans heavily into body horror, visceral imagery, and a sense of the grotesque.

It treats sexual and ritual elements in a disturbing, transgressive way (nakedness, exposure, possession).

It plays with genre tropes (slasher, cabin horror, ritual horror), then subverts them via surreal, fever-dream logic.
swellcast.com
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3
Bloody Flicks
+3

There is a continuous tension between shock / gore and narrative coherence — the film often sacrifices clarity for sensory impact.

2. Notable Elements
   Visuals, Practical Effects & Gore

One of Tonight She Comes’ strongest assets is its commitment to practical gore effects. It is unabashed in its visceral, extreme imagery: exploding heads, bodies drenched in fluids, and ritualistic carnage.
thebackseatdriverreviews.com
+4
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+4
Bloody Disgusting!
+4

A memorable kill involves a bloody sleeping bag—the film borrows from classic horror imagery (notably Friday the 13th) but then twists it into its own grotesque territory.
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+2
Bloody Disgusting!
+2

The cinematography, though modest by budget, often uses darkness, close framing, and sudden blood contrast to heighten shock. Some scenes feel drenched in red, as if the camera itself is stained. Reviewers mention the visuals as strong, even when the narrative slips.
GAMES, BRRRAAAINS & A HEAD-BANGING LIFE
+3
swellcast.com
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3

Soundtrack & Score

The film features a pulsating synth score which many reviews highlight as a tonal asset—it amplifies the unsettling atmosphere and gives the film a weird, retro horror vibe.
Bloody Disgusting!
+3
Bloody Flicks
+3
horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk
+3

Performances & Characters

Jenna McDonald as Felicity is often cited as a standout among the cast: she brings a steadier presence amidst the chaos.
Bloody Flicks
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Nathan Eswine (James) brings in occasional levity or normalcy (briefly) before being pulled into horror.
Bloody Flicks
+2
GAMES, BRRRAAAINS & A HEAD-BANGING LIFE
+2

Many of the supporting characters are archetypical — “drunk partygoers,” “skeptical friends,” or “hidden beasts lurking.” Their dialogue is sometimes criticized as flat or silly.
Screen Realm
+2
GAMES, BRRRAAAINS & A HEAD-BANGING LIFE
+2

Structure & Pacing

The film doesn’t adhere to conventional story arcs. Instead, it feels episodic or surreal: early scenes flirt with genre expectations; the third act becomes increasingly unmoored. Some critics argue that it becomes “muddled” or incoherent, while others claim that this is intentional — a kind of horror fever dream.
GAMES, BRRRAAAINS & A HEAD-BANGING LIFE
+4
Bloody Disgusting!
+4
Screen Realm
+4

The pacing is uneven. The first half is slow to reveal, bordering on meandering, while the final act attempts to overwhelm.
Screen Realm
+2
GAMES, BRRRAAAINS & A HEAD-BANGING LIFE
+2

3. Themes & Messages

Because Tonight She Comes is more experiential than expository, its themes are often felt rather than explicitly explained. Some of the apparent motifs include:

Transformation, Rebirth & Possession

The idea of ruptured bodies, inner entities emerging, and hosts being overwritten plays heavily into the film’s central horror. The film seems to ask: who is in control? Who is becoming what?
moviepooper.com
+2
Bloody Disgusting!
+2

Sexuality, Exposure & the Grotesque

The film doesn’t shy from nudity and sexual imagery, often in disturbing contexts. This relates to its horror: nakedness becomes vulnerability, the exposed body becomes both target and weapon.
letterboxd.com
+3
Bloody Disgusting!
+3
IMDb
+3

Genre Deconstruction & Meta Horror

While it uses typical horror tropes (cabin in the woods, group of friends, missing person), Tonight She Comes also deliberately destabilizes them. It deconstructs expectations, sometimes rejecting logic in favor of shocking visual logic.
Bloody Disgusting!
+2
Bloody Flicks
+2

Chaos Over Control

The sense that meaning is slipping, that narrative structure is breaking down, contributes to the film’s horror. The characters do not always respond rationally; the world is unstable and unpredictable.

On the matter of holiday tradition or sentiments — this film does not engage with festive themes; its focus is on body horror, ritual, and extremity, not familial warmth or seasonal motifs.

4. Personal Impressions

What works for me:

The film’s audacity: it doesn’t compromise. As a horror fan, I admire that it tries bold, extreme things rather than playing safe.

The practical effects are often excellent. In a low-budget context, committing fully to gruesome detail helps the film feel tangible.

The sound design and synth score do a lot of heavy lifting in mood. When the visuals feel chaotic, the music helps hold tension.

Some individual scenes are memorable — the return of Kristy in blood, the surreal ritual imagery — they linger in memory.

The film doesn’t pretend to explain everything. The ambiguity is part of its personality.

What doesn’t always land / what bothered me:

The narrative incoherence. At times, I felt lost — motivations unclear, chronology slippery. This works sometimes as a stylistic choice, but it risked alienating me.

The dialogue and character writing are uneven. Some characters feel like horror-movie tropes, and their lines occasionally distract with silliness rather than tension.

The excess of shock/gore for its own sake. Some moments feel less earned and more “how far can I push?” This can tip from thrilling to gratuitous.

The uneven pacing made the first half drag for me; I wished for more tension earlier rather than slow build.

Because the film often leans into shock, emotional stakes sometimes get sacrificed — I didn’t always care deeply about outcomes.

Overall, though, I found Tonight She Comes to be a strange, unsettling ride. It’s not a polished classic, but for those willing to lean into weirdness, it offers visceral horror and a unique voice.

5. Audience Recommendations

You might enjoy Tonight She Comes if:

You’re a fan of extreme, visceral horror (body horror, gore, unsettling imagery).

You like horror that experiments, that pushes boundaries rather than following safe formulas.

You don’t mind ambiguity, narrative breaks, or surreal sequences.

You have an interest in low-budget, cult, or midnight-movie style films.

You’re not easily offended by nudity, exposure, and grotesque presentation.

You might not enjoy it if:

You prefer clean, coherent plots, or character-driven horror over shock.

You dislike violence, gore, or horror that prioritizes visuals over storytelling.

You find movies that “don’t make sense” frustrating rather than intriguing.

You want emotional connection or more subtle horror — this film often goes loud and grotesque.

6. Conclusion & Rating

Conclusion:
Tonight She Comes is a bold, divisive entry into modern horror — a film that trades narrative clarity for sensory impact, that dares to shock, and that lives between the beautiful and the disgusting. It is not perfect, but its ambition, gore craftsmanship, and weird tone give it a place in the horror underground. For viewers willing to be challenged (and occasionally disturbed), it offers a memorable ride.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5)