Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- somber
- eerie
- suspenseful
- late night viewing
- quiet evening
What critics said
Critics generally found the film well acted and atmospherically crafted but too solemn, slow, and reductive compared with its source novel.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gabriel's telephone relationship with Pete drives the investigation into whether the boy is who he claims to be.
Gabriel's vulnerable connection with Pete unfolds alongside the collapse of his relationship and growing doubts about the boy's identity.
Telephone calls, radio broadcasts, motels, hospitals, and solitary listening spaces create suspense without relying on spectacle.
Gabriel's same-sex relationship and its deterioration are central to the emotional and social context of the mystery.
Films like The Night Listener, and why
The Talented Mr. Ripley
shared psychological mystery, unreliable identity questions, and intimate urban unease
The Crying Game
shared literary thriller atmosphere, emotional isolation, and suspense built through ambiguous personal relationships
Frequency
shared slow-burn psychological tension, radio-centered communication, and unsettling questions of authenticity
Mysterious Skin
shared somber queer drama, identity uncertainty, and claustrophobic interpersonal suspense
Movie Details
- Director
- Patrick Stettner
- Release Date
- 2006-02-12
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (292)
Cast
- Robin Williams
- Toni Collette
- Rory Culkin
- Sandra Oh
- Joe Morton
- Bobby Cannavale
- Rodrigo Lopresti
- John Cullum
- Lisa Emery
- Guenia Lemos
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Night Listener about?
- A troubled radio host becomes consumed by an unsettling telephone bond with a child whose identity may be impossible to verify.
- What is The Night Listener like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Night Listener as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Night Listener violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Night Listener as mild.
- What did critics think of The Night Listener?
- Critics generally found the film well acted and atmospherically crafted but too solemn, slow, and reductive compared with its source novel.
- Which films are like The Night Listener?
- Films with a similar feel include The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Crying Game, Frequency, and Mysterious Skin.
- How long is The Night Listener?
- The Night Listener runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Night Listener?
- In United States, The Night Listener is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
