Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- foreboding
- ritualistic
- dark night viewing
- folk horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film uneven but increasingly spectacular, praising its final coven and Yune Nogueiras’s performance while noting thin characterization and a less subtle first half.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film is set in the 17th century and centers on witchcraft within a historical fantasy framework.
Basque mythology and regional folklore are the film's defining supernatural foundations.
Critical reception specifically highlights the terrifying final coven involving Kattalin, Beltra, Graxiana, and Reme.
The principal cast is dominated by women tied to witchcraft, including Kattalin, Beltra, Graxiana, and Reme.
Films like Gaua (The Night), and why
The Witch
shared folk horror atmosphere, witchcraft, rural historical setting, and mythic supernaturalism
November
shared historical fantasy, occult ritual, regional folklore, and women confronting supernatural forces
The Wicker Man
shared coven-centered folk horror, ritualistic imagery, and escalating supernatural dread
Akelarre
shared basque-adjacent rural mythology, female-centered supernatural horror, and period atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Urkijo Alijo
- Release Date
- 2025-11-13
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (82)
Cast
- Yune Nogueiras
- Ane Gabarain
- Elena Irureta
- Iñake Irastorza
- Xabi «Jabato» López
- Manex Fuchs
- Erika Olaizola
- Elena Uriz
- Jon Jauregui
- Laura Iturregi
Common questions
- What is Gaua (The Night) about?
- A Basque historical folk-horror tale in which witchcraft, myth, and a young woman’s peril gather toward a spectacular coven ritual.
- What is Gaua (The Night) like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gaua (The Night) as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Gaua (The Night) violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Gaua (The Night) as mild.
- What did critics think of Gaua (The Night)?
- Critics broadly found the film uneven but increasingly spectacular, praising its final coven and Yune Nogueiras’s performance while noting thin characterization and a less subtle first half.
- Which films are like Gaua (The Night)?
- Films with a similar feel include The Witch, November, The Wicker Man, and Akelarre.
- How long is Gaua (The Night)?
- Gaua (The Night) runs 92 minutes.
