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Home - Movies - Stay The Night (2022) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)

Stay The Night (2022) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)

The slow burn that “Stay The Night” delivers a different kind of “Meet-Cute” story that makes every awkward and frustrating moment worth it.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted onOctober 10, 2022 8:48 AM
Title Card for Stay The Night

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.


Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.


  • Film Summary
    • Things To Note
      • Why Is "Stay The Night" Not Rated
  • Character Descriptions
    • Carter
    • Grace
    • Joni
  • Review
    • Highlights
      • A Good Kind Of Slow Burn
      • Carter's Willingness To Be A Friend

The slow burn that “Stay The Night” delivers a different kind of “Meet-Cute” story that makes every awkward and frustrating moment worth it.

Director(s) Renuka Jeyapalan
Screenplay By Renuka Jeyapalan
Date Released (In Theaters, Video On Demand) 10/7/2022
Genre(s) Romance, Young Adult
Duration 1 Hour and 29 Minutes
Content Rating Not Rated
Noted Cast
Carter Joe Scarpellino
Grace Andrea Bang
Joni Humberly González

This content contains pertinent spoilers.

Film Summary

With Carter being demoted to the minor leagues of the NHL, Grace not getting the promotion she wants, and the guy she likes at work likely having an interest in another girl, neither are having a good day. However, a chance encounter at a bar, where Grace was meeting her long-time roommate, leads to Carter originally pushing himself into Grace’s life to escape a fan. But, as the night wears on, Grace, for the first time, finds herself taking the initiative in her personal life, not just her professional one.

Things To Note

Why Is “Stay The Night” Not Rated

  • Dialog: Nothing over the top to the point of being appalled
  • Violence: Nope
  • Sexual Content: It’s implied people had sex
  • Miscellaneous: Drinking

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Carter

Since he was a kid, Carter has focused on having a hockey career. It was how he hoped to connect with his absentee dad, maybe get him to show up in his life. More than a decade later, it is becoming clear that the dream will never come to reality, and it seems that Carter’s performance has suffered. But whether he’ll rededicate himself or potentially seek out a new venture is hard to say.

  • You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Thomas in “The Parent Family”

Grace

Playing it safe, taking care of others, doing enough to say she made some kind of effort, but not going as far as needed to make her intentions clear, that’s what Grace has done for a long time. Because of that, she doesn’t get the promotion she wanted, has never got the guy she wanted, and at 27, these series of failures are getting to her.

  • You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Janet in “Kim’s Convenience”

Joni

Joni (Humberly Gonzalez) teasing Grace
“Joni (Humberly Gonzalez) teasing Grace,” Stay The Night, directed by Renuka Jeyapalan, 2022, (Freestyle Digital Media)

Joni has been Grace’s friend since college, and, coming from Grace, she is part of the reason Grace didn’t date much in college, since either she was taking care of Joni after a breakup or dealing with her hogging the room to hook up with someone.

  • You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Sophie Sanchez in “Ginny & Georgia,” Vanessa in “In The Dark,” and Georgia Lancaster in “Workin’ Moms”

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

Highlights

A Good Kind Of Slow Burn

Grace (Andrea Bang) at a bar, opening up to Carter
“Grace (Andrea Bang) at a bar, opening up to Carter,” Stay The Night, directed by Renuka Jeyapalan, 2022, (Freestyle Digital Media)

While “Stay The Night” operates as a meet-cute type story, it’s not an instant match. The film respects that Grace is awkward, and not in a comedic way, when it comes to intimacy, even if it is just getting too close with a person. But, between Carter being willing to try and Grace liking him enough to push through her insecurities and anxiety, you get the kind of romance that gets you in your feelings.

Mind you, at times, the awkwardness is cringey, but not knowing what to say, whether you should allow things to die off or try to revive them, or if you should leave well enough alone since the night has gone well, or try to extend it? These are all relatable struggles. The kind that, for those who aren’t necessarily extroverts, suave, or alluring, can understand.

Thus giving a movie that, for those who feel like Grace and are on the brink of wondering if you might just be asexual because of how crushes and feelings work for you, “Stay The Night” is representation.

*Note: She isn’t asexual, just awkward as hell.

Carter’s Willingness To Be A Friend

Carter (Joe Scarpellino) outside his hotel
“Carter (Joe Scarpellino) outside his hotel,” Stay The Night, directed by Renuka Jeyapalan, 2022, (Freestyle Digital Media)

It’s not hard to imagine a guy like Carter being put off due to Grace going from hot to cold sometimes. At one point, she wants to hook up. The next, she is distant, a bit silent, and you think you should back off. Next thing you know, she is finding ways to re-engage, and that could be a lot. Especially because it isn’t like Carter isn’t going through something, professionally, that isn’t life altering.

Yet, you can see Carter not only wants or needs a distraction from his own life but wants to be the friend Grace clearly needs. Someone who, unlike her roommate Joni, she doesn’t have to take care of. Thus allowing her to open up, talk about her struggles, and know she isn’t going to get that old, “I can relate, and here is my life story” chat, but really dig a bit.

And it is in Carter not just trying to be a boyfriend, a one-night stand, or anything like that, but potentially just a friend for the night, that makes you like him and like him and her together.

[ninja_tables id=”46802″]

Title Card for Stay The Night
Stay The Night (2022) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
Overall
“Stay The Night” embraces awkwardness, even being cringey, without making a joke out of it. Because of that, you get a heartfelt portrayal of how difficult finding love can be, never mind pursuing a viable crush.
Highlights
A Good Kind Of Slow Burn
Carter’s Willingness To Be A Friend
Disputable
83

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User Review
5 (1 vote)

Listed Under Categories: Movies, Positive (Worth Seeing)

Related Tags: Andrea Bang, Humberly González, In Theaters, Indie, Joe Scarpellino, Not Rated, Renuka Jeyapalan, Romance, Video On Demand, Young Adult

Amari Allah

Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.

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