Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 16+
Sympathetic character with Asperger's in mature crime story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Dead body shown, with huge blood puddle. Some bloodstains, bloody wounds. A man roughs up a woman, shoving her down on a bed and slapping her. Guns shown. Gunshot noise heard.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Topless woman. Kissing. A man meets with two different women in hotel rooms. Sex-related dialogue, mentions of "porn."
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-
Language
a lot
Several uses of "f--k," plus "s--t," "ass," "hell," "bastard," "oh God," and "shut up."
See AlsoThe Night Clerk (2020)The Night Clerk – Ich kann dich sehenReview: The Night Clerk - Ich kann dich sehen (Film) | MedienjournalThe Night Clerk (2020) | Rotten TomatoesDid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Beer with dinner. Social drinking. Cigarette smoking. Reference to "vaping."
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Positive Messages
a little
Amid the twisty thriller/murder elements, the movie has a fairly strong sense of empathy, showing how connecting with another is preferable to judging or dismissing someone as "weird."
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Positive Role Models
a little
Bart is a well-drawn, three-dimensional representation of a character with Asperger's. His behavior is explained and accepted, even as he continues to try to connect with others. He does hit a few bumps in the road and must make some tough decisions. Angela is shown as understanding and compassionate (thanks to having a brother with Asperger's).
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Night Clerk is a crime drama about a young man with Asperger's syndrome (Tye Sheridan) who becomes involved in murder. There are a few scenes of strong violence, most notably a dead body with a large pool of blood. Viewers will also see other blood stains/wounds and violence against women (a man shoves a woman, slaps her, etc.). Guns are shown, and shots are heard. A woman appears topless, characters kiss, and there are several instances of sex-related talk/innuendo (e.g., "porn" is mentioned). A man appears to be meeting two different women for sex in hotel rooms. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "ass," "bastard," and more. Characters smoke cigarettes and drink socially and with dinner; there's a reference to vaping. The movie's characters are stronger than the story, but they're so well done that The Night Clerk is still worth a look for mature viewers. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
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The Night Clerk
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (3)
- Kids say (2)
age 14+
Based on 3 parent reviews
Meg T. Adult
January 14, 2023
age 15+
Comedy
Not very scary but great film v interesting
kubrickapologist Adult
January 8, 2022
age 13+
A surprisingly candid view of Asperger syndrome ...
... and you wouldn't read that in most early reviews. A smart film and beautifully played by Tye Sheridan and by the gorgeous Ana de Armas - my introduction to this actress.
Rate movie
See all 3 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In THE NIGHT CLERK, Bart Bromley (Tye Sheridan), a young man with Asperger's syndrome, works the 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. shift at the front desk of a small hotel. Hoping to learn to improve his social interactions, Bart has placed secret cameras in the rooms to study people. One night he spies a woman being beaten to death by a mysterious man; only the perpetrator's tattoo is visible. Because of Bart's odd behavior, a police detective (John Leguizamo) starts to suspect him, and Bart's worrying, protective mother (Helen Hunt) tries to shield him. Meanwhile, a new woman, Andrea (Ana de Armas), checks in to the hotel. Since her brother also had Asperger's, she understands Bart's behavior. They become friends, and Bart begins to nurse romantic feelings for her. But the murderer is still on the loose ...
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (2):
This crime drama with emotionally touching performances is surprisingly low-key and quiet, taking advantage of the wee hours of the dark during which much of the story takes place. Writer-director Michael Cristofer, also an actor and an award-winning playwright, hasn't made a film since 2001 (although he did co-write the 2017 boxing biopic Chuck), and his earlier works dealt in much seamier material. The Night Clerk is a welcome improvement, relying on the excellent Sheridan to effectively convey Bart's social awkwardness and frustration, but also deep intelligence and breadth of feeling. It goes beyond any potentially gimmicky performance; it gets to the heart of things.
The other key to the movie's success is de Armas, whose Andrea shows great compassion to Bart, even after things turn uneasy between them. Cristofer creates an alluring atmosphere, using the night air and the hotel's small size to create an insulated feel, almost as if this were a dream of a film noir. Where The Night Clerk doesn't quite live up to expectations is in some of its character motivations and in its murder plot. It's serviceable and effective, but it lacks any sharp twists and turns to keep die-hard mystery fans guessing. Fortunately, the characters are interesting enough that they make the movie worth a look.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Night Clerk's depiction of violence. Does Bart's emotionless reaction to it change its impact?
How is sex depicted? What values are imparted? How did you react to Bart's clinical explanation of why people fall in love?
How is Asperger's syndrome depicted here? What did you learn? Does the movie seem fair and honest? Does it rely on any stereotypes?
What's the appeal of murder stories? Why do we like to watch them?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 21, 2020
- On DVD or streaming: April 7, 2020
- Cast: Tye Sheridan, Ana de Armas, Helen Hunt, John Leguizamo
- Director: Michael Cristofer
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors, Female actors
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language, some sexual references, brief nudity and violent images
- Last updated: August 24, 2023
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The Night Clerk
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