A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Kino Lorber | Release Date: November 21, 2014
7.2
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 125 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
86
Mixed:
29
Negative:
10
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
evanrmNov 23, 2014
That it's the first Iranian vampire film is really the only thing going for it when compared to other vampire flicks. It's kind of art-house (meaning dull and slow), although it has a few decent parts. It never really picks up any sort ofThat it's the first Iranian vampire film is really the only thing going for it when compared to other vampire flicks. It's kind of art-house (meaning dull and slow), although it has a few decent parts. It never really picks up any sort of pace, and the slow, meandering script lacks any real emotional centre.

I have the feeling that if it wasn't the first Iranian vampire film, the critics wouldn't be so smitten with it.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
LowbrowCinemaJan 4, 2015
After a pretty sensational opening 20 minutes, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT becomes a classic case of style over substance. And sadly, the style is nothing new. But those first 20 minutes show real talent and an ability to appropriate aAfter a pretty sensational opening 20 minutes, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT becomes a classic case of style over substance. And sadly, the style is nothing new. But those first 20 minutes show real talent and an ability to appropriate a culture while simultaneously criticizing and celebrating it. In this case, the appropriated culture is American pop culture in Iran. Sadly, the film doesn't hang on and eventually loses its way.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
frankrog29May 12, 2015
I agree with LowbrowCinema in that this film is a classic case of style over substance. The cinematography is gorgeous, but the plot leaves little to be desired. It does a good job establishing a tone of creepiness and melancholy, but, alas,I agree with LowbrowCinema in that this film is a classic case of style over substance. The cinematography is gorgeous, but the plot leaves little to be desired. It does a good job establishing a tone of creepiness and melancholy, but, alas, atmosphere alone is rarely enough to sustain a feature film for the entire running time.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
heathermFeb 10, 2015
This movie has a lot of really great moments to it--I loved all the scenes with the two protagonists, for instance, and a lot of others. When they meet for the second time, he's dressed as Dracula and coming from a party and he tells her notThis movie has a lot of really great moments to it--I loved all the scenes with the two protagonists, for instance, and a lot of others. When they meet for the second time, he's dressed as Dracula and coming from a party and he tells her not to be afraid of him--not realizing, of course, that she's the real vampire, which is a hilarious bit of dramatic irony for us watching. However, there were a lot of very long musical interludes with abstract shots which were beautiful, but (for me at least) slowed down the film and the story I was interested in. Still, the central story and the main characters were incredibly compelling, and in my opinion, the movie ends perfectly, so it's worth the wait to get there.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
JLuis_001Sep 6, 2017
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is not a movie for massive audiences, its reading is for tougher audiences but still manages to offer multiple pleasures within its environment, and much of this is due to the effect of its cinematography.A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is not a movie for massive audiences, its reading is for tougher audiences but still manages to offer multiple pleasures within its environment, and much of this is due to the effect of its cinematography.
It's a luminous creepy film set in an imaginary Iranian underworld, filmed properly in black and white.

Try it, you won't regret it.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
LamontRaymondNov 28, 2014
The movie certainly looks cool, and the lead actress has amazing presence, but it's slow as molasses, which is a problem for a motion picture. I can't imagine who the target audience for this film is. Definitely not horror fans. I can seeThe movie certainly looks cool, and the lead actress has amazing presence, but it's slow as molasses, which is a problem for a motion picture. I can't imagine who the target audience for this film is. Definitely not horror fans. I can see where it would be cathartic for a Persian woman living in Iran or another country in the middle east which is not so progressive when it comes to women's rights. I just wish the writer/director would have taken the story a bit further.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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9
ibbsteNov 22, 2014
I love watching movies that feel like discoveries and revelations of vital new talent. This movie is smart, fun, slick, provocative, and kind of beautiful.
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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9
TroutmasterMar 9, 2015
"Cool" in the way cool used to be used when it was a vibe and a look rather than an endorsement.
Superbly shot with an excellent use of soundtrack. Reminiscent of the languid stylings of Jarmusch but with the fun self-awareness of Tarantino"Cool" in the way cool used to be used when it was a vibe and a look rather than an endorsement.
Superbly shot with an excellent use of soundtrack. Reminiscent of the languid stylings of Jarmusch but with the fun self-awareness of Tarantino and curatorial taste. As if Raymond Pettibon's cover art for Sonic Youth's Goo came to life as an Iranian Vampire flick.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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8
kirkenderAug 1, 2020
A film that owes its success to film. Each scene and character are perfectly stolen from other sources, which is not a complaint, it is glorious. The narrative has enough ambiguity to allow your brain to explore the characters. Each momentA film that owes its success to film. Each scene and character are perfectly stolen from other sources, which is not a complaint, it is glorious. The narrative has enough ambiguity to allow your brain to explore the characters. Each moment has a dreamlike quality that teeters on iconic and embarrassing. The vampire is absolutely wonderful. It's Anne Rice mainlining David Lynch while doing what Tarantino thinks he's capable of. Mwah. *Chef's kiss*… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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0
raporgiDec 30, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pretentious pile of @$$. starts out interestingly but there's no real mystery or story. its actually feels like a student project. Not really worth your time. Too bad I really wanted a B/W horror flick. This is not one of them.… Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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9
TheQuietGamerMay 24, 2015
The horror and romance genres have always blended together awkwardly in my opinion. Especially when vampires are involved. That isn't the case here. In it's defense though it isn't entirely a horror movie. It is more of a story about beingThe horror and romance genres have always blended together awkwardly in my opinion. Especially when vampires are involved. That isn't the case here. In it's defense though it isn't entirely a horror movie. It is more of a story about being trapped in a bad area where the only way to get anywhere is to leave, and that's easier said than done. All of that is mixed in with plenty of weirdness to create one the best vampire films in years.

The while film is in black and white giving it the feel of those old school horror movies of the 30's and 40's. The actual scares are light. Sheila Vand certainly can be creepy as the vampire, it's amazing what a dark cloak and pale face can do to make one look unnerving, but the movie isn't scary at all. Only a few moments of actual vampirism take place. The movie is more about telling a story than instilling fear.

Despite that it's still an amazing film. There is an originality here that few other horror films, romance or otherwise, have had in recent years. It's also an needed shot of cool back into the vampire genre. It's no secret that those iconic horror movie monsters had lost their bite long ago. This movie does a lot to help give it back. The creativity and weirdness of it all is strangely exciting. Provided you can put up with the rather slow pace I think you'll find a lot to love here.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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7
SpangleDec 5, 2015
Brilliantly shot, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a good film and a great debut by director Ana Lily Aminpour, who immediately becomes a woman to keep an eye on. The acting is very good as well, but the real star here is the camera. WithBrilliantly shot, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a good film and a great debut by director Ana Lily Aminpour, who immediately becomes a woman to keep an eye on. The acting is very good as well, but the real star here is the camera. With the film being light on plot, the camera work steals the show and really pulls out all of the possible beauty in the film. In addition, the atmosphere cultivated by Aminpour and the composer is great as it really keeps you on edge, though I certainly wish there was more a pay-off when it comes to vampires and the sucking of blood. Nowhere near as scary or horrorish as it should have been, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night falls short of being great for that reason and unlike other films that fall short here (Let the Right One In, another vampire flick, for example) it does not offer enough to overcome that. Regardless, it is a very good work that deserves praise.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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7
jppl1999Jul 16, 2015
In terms of aesthetic and artistic elements, the movie works perfectly and endorses a really unique environment. In terms of behavior, "The Girl" acts as the best vampire I have ever seen on screen. The film is worth it.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
oDjentoOct 6, 2015
This could perhaps be one of the best vampire movies I’ve ever seen, coming close to ‘Let The Right One In’. The film is astonishingly creepy and eerie, every time the vampire is on screen you are on the edge of your seat never really knowingThis could perhaps be one of the best vampire movies I’ve ever seen, coming close to ‘Let The Right One In’. The film is astonishingly creepy and eerie, every time the vampire is on screen you are on the edge of your seat never really knowing what is going to happen.
The film is stunningly shot with some absolutely gorgeous cinematography; some scenes look like they’re straight out of a painting. The use of black and white in this film also really adds to how much of a desolate ghost town “Bad City” is. The film even has a slight Tarantino feel to it without it really being like a Tarantino film at all. This is some truly impressive cinema.
The pacing is relatively slow but it is engaging and due to how tense scenes can get you keep watching no matter how slow it goes.
Performances are also good here, with the actor who played the vampire bringing an excellent performance.
Standout scenes would – pretty much – be any scene that the vampire is in.
There is obviously more going on in this film with its symbolism, imagery and overall message but I couldn’t fully give you a good explanation of it. I have a rough idea but I’ll re-watch it to get a better insight into it, and the film should be relatively easy to re-watch due to its beautiful shots.
An exceptional vampire film you SHOULD check out.
8/10… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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10
jasharkowalskiMay 6, 2015
No matter where you were born at, if you're born female, you're in deep trouble....female power to the people ! :)....the scene where vampire mimics the moves of the junkie is one of the best in cinematography, a true masterpiece that chillsNo matter where you were born at, if you're born female, you're in deep trouble....female power to the people ! :)....the scene where vampire mimics the moves of the junkie is one of the best in cinematography, a true masterpiece that chills your spine without a drop of blood being spilled....watch and learn all of you Saw, Asylum, Hostel and other directors....… Expand
0 of 4 users found this helpful04
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6
drlowdonJun 15, 2017
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is beautifully shot, has a great score and is superbly acted making for the kind of film that art-house movie aficionados will likely love. Many viewers however, and I include myself in this, will find it toA Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is beautifully shot, has a great score and is superbly acted making for the kind of film that art-house movie aficionados will likely love. Many viewers however, and I include myself in this, will find it to be too much style over substance at times at even at just 100 minutes running time it felt a little too long.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
NShep53May 28, 2015
A very interesting vampire movie that blends a lot of different genres (horror, drama, romance, etc) into a worth-while piece of cinema. The movie also benefits from a great cast.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
temptershellAug 28, 2017
This debut shows first of all the unwillingness for a contemporary approach to history. Spectators are fascinated by every anomaly of the standard movies as it was with the "Artist", and this particular thriller is just weak. Lack ofThis debut shows first of all the unwillingness for a contemporary approach to history. Spectators are fascinated by every anomaly of the standard movies as it was with the "Artist", and this particular thriller is just weak. Lack of charismatic characters and a terrible soundtrack are the main problems of this production.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
ShiningLionOct 29, 2020
This movie really moved me, so I guess it deserves the title of movie. Haha. That said, it's obviously not a mainstream film for the masses that want spooks, thrills, and chills. This film calls itself a Western but is only a Western in itsThis movie really moved me, so I guess it deserves the title of movie. Haha. That said, it's obviously not a mainstream film for the masses that want spooks, thrills, and chills. This film calls itself a Western but is only a Western in its pacing, structure, tone, and character exploration (reminded me a lot of Once Upon a Time in the West, in that regard). A slow burn to be sure, but I found it a really refreshing turn away from frenetic modern filmmaking that has so much happening at each moment you're never allowed to stop and think. This movie had so much subtlety and pause that I found myself thinking and reflecting a lot. It induces an almost meditative state while still letting the viewer's mind fill in the space with moral contemplation. This film is made in the foosteps of old silent films so if that doesn't sound like a nice movie night to you, save yourself the time and this film the negative remarks!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
FilmPhonicMay 27, 2015
In her debut feature-length film British-born Iranian-American writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour takes her 2011 short of the same name and expands it into a unique a genre-straddling stylistic mashup of spaghetti-western and horror with clearIn her debut feature-length film British-born Iranian-American writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour takes her 2011 short of the same name and expands it into a unique a genre-straddling stylistic mashup of spaghetti-western and horror with clear heart of romance.

Much has been made of the film’s visual style and its aesthetic similarities to Jim Jarmusch’s work with Amirpour choosing to shoot in Monochrome (black & white spectrum) giving the landscape a stark look and smoothing over some of the obvious filming techniques which conspire with the soundtrack to create the familiar “retro-cool” of many recent indies.

There’s a lot to admire about this movie, in a small independent film Amirpour manages to take the “mysterious stranger” element of Sergio Leone westerns and subvert it using a young solitary girl as the ominous spectre that dishes out gruesome “justice” to “Bad City’s” sinful men, a feminist version of the “Angel of Death” paradigm if you will.

Despite the vampiric elements in the film however, this is really not much of a horror with the girl’s paranormal abilities serving only as a mechanism to drive the true heart of the story, an ultimately traditional tale of young forbidden love, albeit between two very nontraditional characters, set in a unique contemporary context.

For all its uniqueness and creativity there are also a lot of issues with the film, there’s way too much technique on show, to the point of tedium, unnecessarily long lingering shots set to an all too familiar Synthpop soundtrack that builds mood but not much else, all of which serve to disguise the fact that there is not much of a story to speak of in another recent indie example of a lot of style over much less substance.

‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’ is no doubt an interesting film debut set in a highly original context, but the sum of its parts does not necessarily translate to a compelling cinematic experience in what feels more like an impressive visual arts project or bizarrely funky music video than a feature length film.

The Bottom Line…
Writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour will have to go a long way to justify the comparisons being made between her and Quentin Tarantino, writing unforgettable dialogue would be task no. 1, but despite the lack of a compelling storyline and issues with execution, ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’ is a refreshing take on a number of different genres and is a welcomingly creative debut from a director we look forward to following in the future.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
globalnomadJul 5, 2015
***D: Ana Lily Amirpour. Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi. And now for something completely different: It's, er, a Quentin-Tarantino-Sergio-Leone-spaghetti-western-like Iranian vampire movie. We need a lot of hyphens to talk about this one. And the***D: Ana Lily Amirpour. Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi. And now for something completely different: It's, er, a Quentin-Tarantino-Sergio-Leone-spaghetti-western-like Iranian vampire movie. We need a lot of hyphens to talk about this one. And the blood-lusting night stalker is that chaste-looking girl in the abaya! Who knew? There's some good acting going on here as well. Shot in black and white to good effect, the setting looks oddly like some forgotten West Texas oil town that ran out of oil. The local pusher even drives a '56 T-Bird, all a bit confusing at first until we note the Persian license plate. And all a bit fun!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
wmurphy011Mar 3, 2023
This is one of the greatest vampire films ever made. Not only that but it's one of the most well directed horror films in history. An instant classic, and one that sets the bar extremely high.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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