Based on the book by J.A. White, comes a new family fun, spooky to Netflix, Nightbooks! When uber horror fan Alex (Winslow Fegley) gets trapped by an evil witch (Krysten Ritter) in her magical traveling apartment he must tell a scary story every night…or be killed! In order to escape, Alex teams up with fellow child prisoner, Yasmin (Lidya Jewett) in order to figure out a way to escape their mystical prison.

At the beginning of the film, I did find myself a little confused about what was going on. We are dropped right into the middle of a side conversation with Alex’s parents who are concerned about his horror obsession – Don’t worry parental units, we all turn out okay. In the end, the story unfolds in a way that makes sense; it just takes a second to get there. 

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Fegley, Jewett, and Ritter. Their banter is absolutely hilarious, the friendships feel natural, and the adventure is addictive. Ritter as The Witch is perfect casting – she warm, yet terrifying, you believe she would 100% murder this child, but also enjoys having them around.

The Verdict On Nightbooks

Overall, I think Nightbooks is so cute! I know, what a weird thing to say about a spooky movie. But, honestly, the film is fun, creative, is visually whimsical, and tells an original story about friendship and loving yourself for exactly who you are…even if it’s scary to do so!  Director David Yarovesky (Brightburn) built this magical world without leaving out any tiny details. Every room of the apartment we are taken into is distinct and wondrous. The monsters are creepy and sometimes terrifying creating the perfect spell for spooky family fun.

Make sure not to miss Nightbooks coming to Netflix Wednesday, September 15th, and kick off your spooky season right!