If you’re drawn to high-concept thrillers with a ticking clock, a diverse cast of characters forced into an impossible situation, and a constant sense of dread, then Netflix’s “Into the Night” offers a unique and intense viewing experience. This Belgian apocalyptic series takes the survival genre to new heights, quite literally.
What is “Into the Night” about?
“Into the Night” begins with a group of passengers aboard a red-eye flight from Brussels. Their seemingly ordinary journey is violently interrupted when a soldier bursts onto the plane, claiming that a sudden, unexplained solar event is causing the sun to kill everything in its path. The only way to survive is to keep moving west, staying ahead of the deadly sunrise.
The series then follows the passengers and crew as they are forced to band together and make impossible choices in their desperate attempt to survive. This diverse group, initially strangers, includes a former military pilot (Mathieu, played by Laurent Capelluto), a terminally ill young man (Ayaz, played by Mehmet Kurtuluş), a Russian mechanic (Terenzio, played by Stefano Cassetti), and a Belgian businessman (Horst, played by Dennis Mojen), among others. Each character brings their own skills, flaws, and personal baggage to the increasingly fraught situation.
As they hop from airport to airport across Europe, facing fuel shortages, mechanical failures, and the growing desperation of the outside world, the passengers must confront not only the external threat but also their own internal conflicts and the moral compromises they are willing to make to survive. The series explores themes of humanity, survival, leadership, and the fragility of civilization.
Why “Into the Night” is a compelling watch:
- Unique Premise: The concept of a killer sun forcing a group of people to perpetually fly westward is both terrifying and captivating.
- High-Stakes Thriller: The constant race against time, coupled with the ever-present threat of the sun and the dwindling resources, creates a relentless sense of tension.
- Diverse and Complex Characters: The show features a rich ensemble cast, each with their own backstories and motivations, making their interactions and conflicts compelling.
- Exploration of Human Nature: The series delves into how people behave under extreme pressure, exploring both the best and worst aspects of humanity.
- International Production: The Belgian series brings a fresh perspective to the apocalyptic genre.
Who are the main actors in “Into the Night”?
- Laurent Capelluto as Mathieu Daniel
- Emir Hadžihafizbegović as Ayaz Kobanbay
- Mehmet Kurtuluş as Ayaz Kobanbay
- Beba Zemljic as Ines
- Yassine Fadel as Nabil
- Jan Bijvoet as Rik
- Nabil Mallat as Osman
- Regina Bikkinina as Zara
- Ksawery Szlenkier as Jakub Kieslowski
- Stefano Cassetti as Terenzio Matteo Gallo
- Dennis Mojen as Horst Baudin
- Astrid Whettnall as Gabrielle Renoir
Where to Watch “Into the Night”:
“Into the Night” is a Netflix Original series. Both seasons are exclusively available to stream on Netflix.
If you enjoyed “Into the Night,” you might also like:
- The 100 (Netflix): For another high-stakes survival drama with morally complex characters forced to make impossible choices in a post-apocalyptic setting.
- Lost in Space (Netflix): For a sci-fi adventure about a family struggling to survive on a dangerous alien planet.
- 3% (Netflix): A Brazilian dystopian thriller about a select few who get the chance to escape a life of poverty.
- Snowpiercer (Netflix/TNT): For another story about humanity’s survival on a moving vehicle in a post-apocalyptic world, this time a train.
- Fear the Walking Dead (AMC/Hulu): For a character-driven drama about survival during a zombie apocalypse.