Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Spine of Night’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Spine of Night’.
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Ask a group of people what they think are essential elements to a horror movie, and you’ll get back some pretty consistent answers. In that, it should have a monster of some sort, one so powerful and nightmarish that it sends chills down the spines of the audience when it appears on screen. Plus, they’ll also tell you that it should feature some quality gore, some amazing kills, and above all else, it should terrify the viewer through and through, courtesy of chilling moments and surprises and well… those are all fine answers to hear from people… because those elements are the standards for horror, and it means the genre has done a fine job of making it clear what to expect from it. But while it is wonderful to know that the genre has established expectations for its audience, it is important to remember that the genre’s wonder and structure can extend beyond the norms.
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For this is a type of story that can dig deep into the human condition and put our fears and struggles and societal problems on display. Plus, it can be dramatic if needed, and horror often fuses well with just about any genre. But of the many fascinating variations available when it comes to horror, the one that isn’t utilized enough… is animated horror. Which is surprising since the possibilities are endless through that format and to date, only a handful of creatives have really utilized its potential. But as the market demands more scary stories in any capacity, there’s a chance we might finally see more animated horror features arriving in our homes and in theaters and it just so happens, that Shudder is now host to a horror flick in this vein… that might just inspire others to go out and make more animated tales of terror courtesy of the quality of The Spine of Night.

Which is an animated horror feature that transports us to a time in history that no one will recognize. For this is an era of the past… or the future… where the comforts we normally enjoy don’t exist and mankind lives in a world resembling the dark ages and what makes this era of note, is that it harbors great magic. The kind that greedy men are eager to get their hands upon and when they do… even darker times emerge. For the wrong man unleashes a genuine evil upon the world and it knows no bounds and its hunger for blood cannot be satiated and despite the best efforts of humanity to fight back against it, it would appear that there is no stopping this evil and its desires. But magic is all about balance and it knows that to put an end to this tipping of the scales toward darkness, a long dead champion will need to return to the land of the living… to put a stop to this madness at last.

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Now, that is a plot that some folks might not see as horror-themed in the slightest and it makes sense as to why. After all, those are some hardcore fantasy concepts right there, the kind ripped from the pages of a solid Dungeons & Dragons match or any good fantasy novel. But there is horror to be found in this tale, courtesy of the fact that whatever the villains of this story tap into… is quite Lovecraftian in nature. Complete with body modifications from our darkest nightmares and well, a hunger for blood and a need to surround oneself with it, is some old school horror for certain. The kind that evokes images akin to Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the horror elements present here extend beyond classic concepts. For the gore here is simply top notch and real or animated or not, splatter is a staple of the genre and there are buckets of it here.
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Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that this particular film… actually leans into some social commentary as well. For everything involving the Pantheon, where wealth and class inequality run rampant, has a modern world feel to it. Not to mention, the desire to see science be toppled and purged from this land because it is misunderstood and feared, has echoes of our modern world and the current battle mankind is fighting against the supremely stupid, anti-science movement. But above all else, where the commentary aspect of this story shines, is through the actions of its villains. Because the greed and desire and outright lust for power present here, serves to remind us that mankind is and will forever be the most dangerous monster of all. For when a man is drunk off of the wonder of power, and hungry for more of it, they will bring great suffering forth… as we’ve seen happen time and time again.

If anything, this is just… a supremely refreshing horror film. One that really does a wonderful job of injecting all kinds of delightful horror elements into a medium that traditionally shies away from it and it really does work here. Courtesy of its dynamic and unique characters and a setting and universe that are masterfully crafted. Plus, it’s a wonderful thing that this movie also takes the time to tip its cap to other horror animated features from days gone by. Since the animation style here is heavily reminiscent of 1981’s Heavy Metal. In fact, one could claim this is a grand homage/spin-off of the segment ‘Den’ from that movie and heck, it wouldn’t have been surprising at all to see the Loc-Nar pop up here. But all of that aside, this movie really is quite the treat. So, if you’re looking for a vastly different kind of horror film to enjoy, one that is original and fun and entertaining… then swing by Shudder and give this one a look. You’ll be glad you did.

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