𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS (2024): When Darkness Knows Your Name

Don’t Turn Out the Lights (2024) is a chilling psychological horror film that taps into one of the most primal human fears: the dark. Directed by rising horror auteur Mia Calder, the film mixes atmospheric dread with psychological tension, offering a fresh spin on supernatural terror that unfolds in terrifying silence.

Set in a sleepy Midwestern town, the story follows Emily Rhodes (Florence Pugh), a trauma therapist who relocates after the mysterious death of her younger sister. Hoping for a fresh start, Emily moves into her late aunt’s isolated Victorian home—only to find herself stalked by a presence that exists solely in the shadows. At first, it’s flickering lights, odd sounds, and whispers at night. But when a patient of hers begins describing the exact same experiences, Emily realizes the phenomenon isn’t limited to her house—it’s following her.

As Emily investigates, she uncovers the legend of the “Night Visitor,” a vengeful spirit that manifests in complete darkness and attaches itself to people carrying unresolved guilt. Each blackout, each blown fuse, becomes a countdown to a violent encounter. The only defense? Keep the lights on—at any cost.

Florence Pugh delivers a raw, intense performance, bringing emotional weight and vulnerability to a role that demands both psychological depth and physical stamina. Her descent into paranoia feels earned, and the audience shares her growing dread as the lights begin to fail, one by one.

Visually, the film is masterful. Calder plays with contrast, shadow, and silence in a way that amplifies every creak and whisper. The sound design is sparse but effective, and when the screen plunges into pitch black, the suspense is nearly unbearable. Jump scares are minimal; instead, the fear creeps in slowly, much like the dark itself.

Critically, the film has been praised for its mature storytelling, thematic depth, and refusal to rely on cliché horror tropes. Its exploration of trauma, memory, and guilt gives the supernatural story a grounded emotional anchor. However, viewers seeking fast-paced thrills may find the pacing deliberately slow.

In summary, Don’t Turn Out the Lights is an atmospheric, intelligent horror experience that proves the scariest monsters are the ones we can’t see—but always feel. With its blend of emotional weight and chilling suspense, it’s destined to become a modern horror classic that will leave audiences sleeping with the lights on.