Night Stage : Fantastic Fest Review

The thirst for fame can be a hard one to quench. You see it everywhere — in every reality TV show, or in the reels you scroll through on social media — everyone seems to want their shot at being famous. But have you ever stopped to wonder what you would do to reach that level of fame? Personally, it has never appealed to me. I enjoy my anonymity, and I doubt I’d like having my every move watched. In Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon’s new film Night Stage, the subject of fame and risk takes center stage — and it’s presented in a stunningly beautiful way.

That last thought isn’t about what people do to achieve fame, but rather how gorgeous the film looks. Matias (Gabriel Faryas) and Fabio (Henrique Barreira) are roommates and fellow actors in a new theater production. Their characters are the last two standing in the play, with one forced to push the other off a ledge so the survivor can deliver a climactic closing monologue — something the director encourages them to lean into each night. Both men are attractive and command the spotlight, but it’s Fabio who’s invited to a casting call for a national TV series. Matias refusing to be left behind, worms his way into the audition, and somehow lands the role. But it comes at a cost: the producers demand he clean up his social media and hide his queer identity, believing it would hurt his character’s appeal.

It’s during this time that Matias meets Rafael (Cirillo Luna), a man running for mayor who insists their encounters remain discreet. What begins as a one-night stand soon grows riskier with each meeting, as they become less careful and more entangled. When Fabio discovers the affair, he tries to use it to his advantage — but fame and power are slippery things, especially when there’s so much to lose.

Written and directed by Matzembacher and Reolon, Night Stage is a beautiful erotic thriller, packed with electric performances and daring visuals. Watching it, you can’t help but think of Brian De Palma — especially Dressed to Kill — as the film channels the look and feel of those early ’80s erotic thrillers. Yet Night Stage isn’t a carbon copy. While it borrows moody lighting, dark colors, and atmospheric music, it adds its own stamp with striking original camerawork and beautifully measured pacing. As the story escalates, the suspense builds hand-in-hand with the film’s style, making it as gripping as it is gorgeous.

Night Stage is a thrilling, unapologetic ride — confident in its delivery, even if not all of its ideas are fully realized. The cast excels, especially Faryas as Matias, who carries the story’s weight with ease. He and Luna, as Rafael, stand out most of all; their chemistry is electric, and their layered performances linger long after. The film delivers a potent mix of eroticism and suspense, wrapped in a stylish flair that makes you question what happens when desire and risk collide.