Gone in the Night

Gone in the Night

Year: 1996

Runtime: 190 mins

Language: English

Director: Bill L. Norton

Drama

A couple is unjustly accused of the murder of their daughter. Based on a true story and book of the same title.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Gone in the Night (1996)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Gone in the Night (1996). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

contemporary (present day)

The events occur in the present day, reflecting current societal themes such as technology, biotech research, and social dynamics. The story intertwines past and recent past moments through flashbacks, but the main timeline is set in modern times, emphasizing current issues related to aging, science, and ethics.

Location

remote cabin in the woods, city

The movie primarily takes place in a remote cabin located within a wooded area, which is isolated and used for clandestine activities. The city scenes contrast this rural setting, representing everyday life and social interactions. The cabin symbolizes seclusion and mystery, while the city provides a backdrop for discovery and confrontation.

🌲 Forest 🏡 Cabin 🌆 Urban

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:46

Main Characters – Gone in the Night (1996)

Meet the key characters of Gone in the Night (1996), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kath (Winona Ryder)

Kath is a middle-aged horticulturist with a cautious and curious nature. She seeks understanding and connection, but her encounters reveal her vulnerabilities and fears regarding aging and mortality. She is resourceful and determined, often driven by her desire for authenticity and truth.

💚 Caring 🔍 Curious 🧠 Intelligent

Max (John Gallagher Jr.)

Max is a younger man who is spontaneous and rebellious. His attitude towards life and relationships often clashes with Kath's prudence. His involvement in the story reveals themes of youth, impulsiveness, and the desire to escape aging and monotony.

🎭 Impulsive 🔥 Rebellious 💭 Curious

Greta (Breanne Tju)

Greta is a secretive scientist with a manipulative streak. She is determined to use Max for her own purposes, showcasing her ruthlessness and ambition. Her actions highlight themes of control and the ethical ambiguity of scientific research.

🤫 Manipulative 🧪 Ambitious ⚠️ Ruthless

Al (Owen Teagues)

Al is a scientist and the son of Nicholas Barlow. He is conflicted, balancing his scientific duties with his moral doubts. His loyalty to Nicholas and his secret plans add complexity to his character.

🧬 Loyal 🤔 Conflicted 🧪 Scientist

Nicholas Barlow (Dermot Mulroney)

Nicholas is a former biotech scientist working on a cure for degenerative diseases. He seeks eternal youth and has personal motives rooted in his father's death. His character embodies the pursuit of scientific immortality and ethical compromise.

🧬 Scientist 🕊️ Driven 🌿 Compassionate

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:46

Major Themes – Gone in the Night (1996)

Explore the central themes of Gone in the Night (1996), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Science & Humanity

The movie explores the ethical and moral implications of advanced biotech and genetic research. It centers around the desire to extend youth and prevent aging, raising questions about the value of life, mortality, and the limits of scientific intervention. The characters' pursuits of longevity highlight the tension between scientific progress and ethical boundaries.

🎭 Deception & Identity

Deception plays a crucial role, as characters hide their true motives and identities. Greta's secret plans and the false appearances at the cabin underscore themes of manipulation and trust. The characters' struggles with their true selves versus their roles reveal deep psychological conflicts.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:46

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with unyielding grief and a quest for truth like Gone in the Night

Heartbroken protagonists uncover dark secrets while grappling with devastating loss.If you were captivated by the heavy emotional weight and investigative drive in Gone in the Night, explore these movies. This list features similar stories where characters, shattered by a tragic event, must piece together a dark mystery, often uncovering conspiracies or unsettling truths that compound their sorrow.

sombertensemelancholicgrief-strickendeterminedunsettling

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with a catalyzing tragedy that shatters the protagonist's world. The story structure follows their investigation, which reveals a larger, often sinister, conspiracy or system of deception. The emotional arc is one of deepening despair and psychological strain, as the pursuit of truth becomes inseparable from the process of mourning.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on grief as a primary motivator, a steady investigative pacing that builds tension, and a consistently dark, melancholic tone. They resonate with viewers seeking emotionally heavy dramas about the high-stakes search for answers in the face of overwhelming loss.

Paranoid science thrillers with dark secrets like Gone in the Night

Ordinary people uncover terrifying experiments hidden beneath a facade of normalcy.For viewers who enjoyed the unsettling revelation of sinister experiments in Gone in the Night, this collection highlights similar movies. Discover other tense stories where ordinary individuals find themselves confronting hidden, unethical scientific pursuits, leading to a tense and often tragic confrontation.

paranoidunsettlingtenseclaustrophobicanxioussinister

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an initial, seemingly normal situation that gradually reveals cracks, leading to the discovery of a horrifying truth related to science or technology. The protagonist's journey is one of escalating paranoia and danger, transforming them from an curious outsider into a target fighting for their life or sanity against a hidden, powerful entity.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core theme of unethical science, a paranoid and tense atmosphere, and a steady pacing that meticulously unveils a horrifying conspiracy. They appeal to audiences who enjoy the specific dread of discovering that progress has a dark, hidden, and human cost.

Unlock the Full Story of Gone in the Night

Don't stop at just watching — explore Gone in the Night in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Gone in the Night is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Gone in the Night Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Gone in the Night, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Gone in the Night Summary

Gone in the Night Timeline

Track the full timeline of Gone in the Night with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Gone in the Night Timeline

Gone in the Night Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Gone in the Night that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Gone in the Night Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Gone in the Night

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Gone in the Night: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Gone in the Night

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Discover movies like Gone in the Night that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.