SXSW Film Review: "Never After Dark"

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"Never After Dark" is a new Japanese horror film from writer/director Dave Boyle and producer Kento Kaku that premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival. The movie follows Airi, a freelance exorcist who has one simple rule - she needs to be alone in the house when performing a ritual. However, the living keep interrupting her, making her job impossible. The film eschews contemporary J-horror trends towards gore and extremity, instead invoking a tone more in keeping with earlier pioneers of the genre like Kaneto Shindô and Masaki Kobayashi.

Why it matters

"Never After Dark" subverts the conventions of Japanese haunting stories, presenting a cold and coiled narrative that slowly builds towards a surprisingly violent conclusion. The film explores themes of solitude, the supernatural as part of nature, and the idea that the living can be more of a disturbance than the dead.

The details

The story centers around Airi, a freelance exorcist who is hired to cleanse an empty hotel. However, the owner, estate agent, cops, and a mysterious former guest keep interrupting Airi's ritual, preventing her from completing her job. Airi has created a career that allows her to remain connected with her deceased sister, but only through uncanny means. As Airi deals with the intrusive living, the film builds a sense of melancholy and dread, leading to a violent climax.

• "Never After Dark" had its world premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival on Monday, March 16.

What’s next

"Never After Dark" will have additional screenings at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival on Wednesday, March 18.