? Netflix originals have, over the years, garnered quite the negative reputation for themselves. We wouldn’t say it’s an unjust one, seeing as most films produced by Netflix indeed end up proving subpar. Night Always Comes, however, is not one of those films. Starring Vanessa Kirby as Lynette, a hard-working young woman working tirelessly to protect her family, the movie is one of Netflix’s best releases in quite some time.

The plot: Lynette lives with her mother, Doreen (Jennifer Leigh), and her brother Kenny (Zack Gottsagen), who has Down syndrome. They’re stuck in a rundown rental, yet it’s the only place they can call home. Lynette and Doreen’s landlord gives them the chance to purchase their home for USD 25k, well below market average. Lynette painstakingly reminds her mother to withdraw the money and show up to the signing appointment, only to find out that Doreen decided to blow all the money on a brand new Mazda.

The movie thrives on uncomfortable confrontations. After an emotionally-driven and heated argument with her mother, Lynette realizes that she’s on a solo mission to somehow make USD 25k materialize before sunrise. It seems impossible, yet Lynette begins formulating a plan. The film’s events all take place in one singular night, following a desperate woman at her wit’s end as she risks it all to save her brother, lest he be taken away by social services. From grand theft to manslaughter, Lynette’s night doesn’t go quite as planned.

Sounds familiar? It’s because it is. Night Always Comes bears striking resemblance to Flight 404, the 2024 Egyptian movie starring Mona Zaki. While Kirby’s and Zaki’s characters share different end goals, their path to obtaining money follows similar routes — and backstories. Rest assured, however, that even if you’ve seen Flight 404, Night Always Comes will still surprise you.

Through dreamlike cinematography, the film evokes a dark and foreboding feeling. From the get-go, the stakes are set: visuals of homeless individuals are depicted as Lynette speeds through the streets and radio channels seem to focus exclusively on the housing crisis.

Lynette cannot mentally or physically escape what awaits her and her family, and that is what fuels her. Lynette’s actions — while at times ludicrous — are justified, and viewers begin connecting with her as more and more of her past is revealed. It’s a fast paced, thrilling, and emotional drama — one that will have you sympathizing with the protagonist’s every move.

WHERE TO WATCH: You can stream Night Always Comes on Netflix, and catch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:09)

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