Night Games (1966)

In Night Games, Jan, a man deeply entangled in the cobwebs of his past, returns to the austere fortress of his childhood, a castle teetering on the precipice of forgotten memories. With his unsuspecting fiancée by his side, this homecoming sparks a haunting journey back to a time two decades ago, when Jan was just a boy living an unbound life under the erratic care of his hedonistic parents and an enigmatic great-aunt. As he roams the echoing halls of the castle, the ghosts of his past begin to stir. Jan finds himself ensnared by forgotten memories, particularly one haunting episode: his mother's defiant refusal to leave a party for a hospital, leading to the birth of a stillborn child within the castle walls. These vivid recollections drag him deeper into the labyrinth of his past, unearthing his buried sexual obsession with his mother, a clandestine fixation that culminated in a disconcerting instance of being caught in a compromising position during a bedtime story. As the past and present begin to blur, Jan's relationship with his fiancée is subjected to the strain of his resurfacing memories. His actions, inexplicably influenced by his past, make the castle's cold stone walls a crucible for their love. Night Games thus weaves a chilling narrative about a man wrestling with his past, a past that refuses to let go, threatening to consume his present and future. This movie unravels the intricate tapestry of buried memories and their profound influence on one's life, offering an intriguing exploration of the human psyche.

Night Games is a drama movie featuring Naima Wifstrand.

Night Games is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.