A young woman is in for the night of her life…but not in a good way in this supernatural horror film from “Millennial Western King” Joe Cornet.

Juliet Rowe is a young hospice care nurse who has been hired to take on a new job. As she needs the money, she is promised a major payday by taking care of the elderly Lillian Gresham. Lillian lives in an isolated house in a remote area. Suffering from terminal cancer, Lillian welcomes Juliet with open arms and the two have a delightful bond. However, as the night goes on, something strange begins to happen.

Juliet begins to envision things, including thinking Lillian has disappeared from her bed at times and seeing a strange mysterious figure. Worried, she contacts her roommate and best friend Pamela, who begins to suspect something is seriously wrong. Meanwhile, a New York detective has come to Los Angeles in search for something involving her mother’s disappearance and turns to a parapsychologist for help. As Juliet continues her struggle, she soon discovers that both she and Lillian may be in grave danger.

From actor and producer (and WorldFilmGeek Hall of Famer) Alexander Nevsky comes this film that is a first for both him and Joe Cornet. After their collaborations on the Western action films Gunfight at Rio Bravo and Taken from Rio Bravo, the two once again join forces with screenwriter Craig Hamann for the producer and director’s first foray into the horror genre. And at a runtime of 75 minutes, it is pretty good.

The titular role of the “caregiver” is excellently played by Natalie Denise Sperl. She comes off as someone who is taking a major opportunity to overcome her hardships, much to the chagrin to her roommate Pamela, played by Gunfight at Rio Bravo co-star Anna Oris. Horror fans will cheer for Eileen Dietz as the elderly Lillian. She is best known as the personification of the demon Pazuzu in the late William Friedkin classic The Exorcist and it is great to see her play someone on the other side of the horror spectrum.

The film also has an interesting subplot, where we are introduced to Det. Roman Eckhart, played by director Cornet. He meets with a parapsychologist, played in an extended cameo by the legendary Eric Roberts, and talks about his mother’s disappearance years ago. Sporadically, we see Roman in his quest as the film’s subplot to Juliet’s struggle as she begins to experience strange visions, including possibly her own demise as she sees herself (literally) sleeping next to Lillian on a bed where a demon kills the sleeping Juliet as perhaps a premonition. The finale begins everything together in a smooth way and even better, it’s not as bloody or graphic as other horror films but fits the mold for this particular subgenre.

Night of the Caregiver is a pretty good horror debut for Joe Cornet and Alexander Nevsky. Natalie Denise Sperl is excellent as a meshing of determined final girl and scream queen, and it is great to see Eileen Dietz in a role opposite to her iconic role in The Exorcist. Joe Cornet and Eric Roberts makes the most of his screen time as well. Definitely one to check out.

WFG RATING: B+

ITN Distribution presents a Hollywood Storm/ETA Productions/San Rafael Productions film. Director: Joe Cornet. Producer: Alexander Nevsky. Writer: Craig Hamann; story by Hamann and Alexander Nevsky. Cinematography: Sam Wilkerson. Editing: Cody Miller.

Cast: Eileen Dietz, Natalie Denise Sperl, Joe Cornet, Anna Oris, Eric Roberts.