Reviews: Nocturne (2020) Movie Review
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Music
Subgenres: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller, Cursed, Dysfunctional Family, Female Revenge, Folk Horror, Blumhouse
Horror fans searching for a breakdown of Nocturne (2020) will find our review covers the plot, themes, and the shocking ending everyone talks about.
Directed by Zu Quirke, Nocturne is a slow-burning psychological horror that blends ambition, rivalry, and supernatural mystery into an eerie coming-of-age thriller. The film follows Juliet (Sydney Sweeney), a talented but overshadowed pianist at a prestigious music academy, who becomes obsessed with outshining her more accomplished twin sister, Vivian (Madison Iseman). When Juliet discovers a mysterious notebook once belonging to a deceased student, she finds herself drawn into a haunting journey of ambition, paranoia, and supernatural forces.
Nocturne (2020) – A Psychological Horror That Favors Atmosphere Over Frights
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The film explores themes of jealousy, perfectionism, and the psychological toll of creative pressure, presenting Juliet’s descent into obsession and madness with an almost dreamlike intensity. As she begins to surpass her sister in skill, eerie coincidences and inexplicable events blur the line between talent and dark manipulation.
Acting and Cinematography
- Sydney Sweeney delivers a gripping lead performance, showcasing Juliet’s vulnerability, desperation, and eventual unraveling with nuanced emotional depth.
- Madison Iseman is effective as Vivian, embodying the natural talent and effortless confidence that Juliet longs for, making their sibling rivalry all the more palpable.
- Jacques Colimon and Ivan Shaw provide solid supporting performances, though their roles primarily serve to further Juliet’s spiral rather than add much depth.
The cinematography is one of the film’s greatest strengths, using warm golden hues, dark shadows, and eerie lighting to reflect Juliet’s growing instability. The use of mirrors and reflections subtly reinforces the film’s themes of duality and fractured identity, while the haunting classical score elevates the tension with a melancholic, hypnotic presence.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Zu Quirke creates a deeply atmospheric and psychological horror that focuses on tension rather than traditional scares. The film owes more to psychological thrillers like Black Swan than supernatural horror, relying on mood, music, and paranoia over jump scares.
Strengths:
- A Unique Psychological Horror Concept – The film’s blend of classical music, supernatural elements, and ambition-driven horror feels fresh and unsettling.
- A Strong Lead Performance – Sydney Sweeney’s performance is mesmerizing, capturing Juliet’s descent into madness with precision.
- Beautiful Cinematography and Score – The film’s haunting visual and auditory elements create an immersive and eerie experience.
- Slow-Building Psychological Tension – The film steadily escalates its tension, making Juliet’s fate feel both inevitable and tragic.
Weaknesses:
- Predictable Story Beats – The "ambitious protagonist making a dark deal for success" trope is familiar, making the film feel less innovative than it could have been.
- Underdeveloped Supporting Characters – The other characters, including Vivian and their teacher, lack depth, making Juliet’s descent feel somewhat one-sided.
- Ambiguous Ending May Divide Viewers – The conclusion is open-ended and lacks a strong resolution, which may frustrate viewers seeking closure.
- More Drama Than Horror – The film leans heavily into psychological tension and drama rather than outright scares, which might disappoint fans looking for a more traditional horror experience.
Final Verdict & Score: 6/10
Nocturne is a visually striking, slow-burning psychological horror that thrives on atmosphere and character study rather than supernatural spectacle. While Sydney Sweeney’s performance and the eerie cinematography make it an engaging watch, the predictable story and lack of true horror elements prevent it from fully standing out in the genre.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Nocturne Rating Scores
- Our Score: 6/10
- Overall Score: 5.96/10
- IMDB: 5.7/10
- MetaCritic: 5.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 6.3/10
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