The Evening Hour (film)

The Evening Hour is a 2020 American drama film, directed by Braden King from a screenplay by Elizabeth Palmore. It is based upon the 2012 novel of the same name by Carter Sickels. It stars Philip Ettinger, Stacy Martin, Cosmo Jarvis, Michael Trotter, Kerry Bishé and Lili Taylor.

The Evening Hour
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Braden King
Screenplay by	Elizabeth Palmore
Based on	The Evening Hour by Carter Sickels
Produced by	Lucas Joaquin Braden King Derrick Tseng
Starring	Philip Ettinger Stacy Martin Cosmo Jarvis Michael Trotter Kerry Bishé Lili Taylor
Cinematography	Declan Quinn
Edited by	Andrew Hafitz Joseph Krings
Music by	Boxhead Ensemble
Production companies	Secret Engine Washington Square Films
Distributed by	Strand Releasing
Release dates	January 27, 2020 (2020-01-27) (Sundance) July 30, 2021 (2021-07-30) (United States)
Running time	115 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2020. It was released on July 30, 2021 by Strand Releasing.

Plot

Cole works as a nursing aide at an elderly care facility in rural Appalachia. As a side job, he redistributes excess medication from residents to local buyers. Cole sees himself as a caretaker who keeps addicts out of the path of the town’s drug kingpin. His double life becomes suddenly threatened when a childhood friend returns after years away with plans to follow Cole into the local drug trade.

Cast

• Philip Ettinger as Cole Freeman
• Stacy Martin as Charlotte Carson
• Cosmo Jarvis as Terry Rose
• Michael Trotter as Reese Campbell
• Kerry Bishé as Lacy Cooper
• Lili Taylor as Ruby Freeman, Cole's mother
• Marc Menchaca as Everett
• Ross Partridge as Randy
• Frank Hoyt Taylor as Clyde Freeman
• Tess Harper as Dorothy Freeman

Production

In March 2016, it was announced Cynthia Nixon, Brian Geraghty, Marin Ireland and Michael Trotter had joined the cast of the film, with Braden King directing from a screenplay by Elizabeth Palmore based upon the 2012 novel of the same name by Carter Sickels.^[2] In November 2018, it was announced Philip Ettinger, Stacy Martin, Cosmo Jarvis, Kerry Bishé, Lili Taylor, Marc Menchaca, Tess Harper and Frank Hoyt Taylor had joined the cast of the film, replacing Nixon, Geraghty and Ireland.^[3] It was filmed in Harlan, Kentucky.

Release

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2020.^[4] In December 2020, Strand Releasing acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.^[5] It was released on July 30, 2021.^[6]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 75% with an average score of 6.7/10, based on 20 reviews.^[7]