Grizzly Night
| Grizzly Night | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Burke Doeren |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Dan Reckard |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Saban Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Grizzly Night is a 2026 American survival thriller film directed by Burke Doeren in his feature directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Katrina Mathewson and Tanner Bean, based on a story by them and Bo Bean. The film is a dramatization of the 1967 "Night of the Grizzlies" attacks in Glacier National Park. It stars Brec Bassinger, Jack Griffo, Charles Esten, and Oded Fehr.
The film depicts the events of August 12, 1967, when two separate fatal grizzly bear attacks occurred on the same night, miles apart, changing the national perception of wildlife conservation. Grizzly Night was released in the United States on January 30, 2026, by Saban Films.[1]
Plot
On August 12, 1967, a summer evening in Montana's Glacier National Park descends into chaos. Joan Devereaux (Lauren Call) is a rookie park ranger trying to establish herself in a male-dominated environment. Her resilience is tested when the park is besieged by two separate, simultaneous grizzly bear attacks occurring only nine miles apart—an unprecedented event in the park's history.
As communication lines fail and panic spreads through the campsites, Joan finds herself responsible for a group of terrified campers and strangers. She must navigate them through the pitch-black wilderness, facing not only the lethal apex predators stalking them but also the harsh, unforgiving terrain. The night's events force the survivors to confront their own fragility and the reality of nature's untamed power.
Cast
- Brec Bassinger as Julie Helgeson
- Lauren Call as Joan Devereaux
- Jack Griffo as Raymond Noseck
- Charles Esten as Gary Bunney
- Oded Fehr as Dr. John Lindberg
- Ali Skovbye as Michele Koons
- Joel Johnstone as Father Connolly
- Josh Zuckerman as Robert Klein
- Matt Lintz as Roy Ducat
- Sophia Macy as Denise Huckle
Production
Development
The film is based on the true events known as the "Night of the Grizzlies," which resulted in the deaths of Julie Helgeson and Michele Koons and led to a massive overhaul of bear management policies in American national parks. The project was produced by independent production company FourJFilms. It marks the feature film directorial debut of Burke Doeren.[2]
Filming
Filming took place near Park City, Utah from August 20, 2023 to September 14, 2023.[3] Filming utilized practical locations to recreate the dense forestry and mountainous terrain of 1960s Montana. Cinematographers Brian Mitchell and Ian Start focused on low-light techniques to emulate the claustrophobic atmosphere of the night-time attacks.
Release
Grizzly Night was released on digital and video on demand platforms in the United States on January 30, 2026, by Saban Films. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the film was acquired by Lightbulb Film Distribution and set for release on February 2, 2026.[4]
Reception
Pre-release reviews praised the film for its tension and historical basis. Future of the Force highlighted the "breathtaking cinematography" and "brutal Grizzly action," noting it as a significant entry in the "creature feature" genre.[4]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 50% of 16 critics' reviews are positive.[5]
Joe Lipset of Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting gave the film positive review and a 2.5/5 rating and wrote: A soft recommend. The intentions are earnest and the bear looks great, but the hair and costuming is questionable and, though based in fact, the decision to divide the narrative between victims means the characters don't pop.[6]
Karina Adelgaard of Heaven of Horror gave the film a rating of 3/5 and she said that: GRIZZLY NIGHT is a survival thriller based on true events that happened in 1967. This is a well-paced and brutal movie with a character-driven story about several tragic...[7]
Nathaniel Muir of AIPT also gave the film a positive review and wrote: That being said, Grizzly Night is an entertaining watch. There are some disgustingly good gore effects following the attacks and the brisk pacing keeps things moving. The grounded approach is surprising, but is perfect for the story being told.[8]
However, Phil Hoad of The Guardian gave the film a negative review and a rating of 2/5, stating that: Doeren clearly has a feel for the bear necessities, but the human interest hardly gets its boots on.[9]
References
- ^ "Grizzly Night (2026) - Box Office and Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ^ Paur, Joey (December 25, 2025). "GRIZZLY NIGHT Trailer Promises a Brutal Survival Thriller Set in the Wild". GeekTyrant. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ^ Hamman, Cody. "Grizzly Night trailer: fact-based nature run amok movie gets a January release". JoBlo. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b "Burke Doeren's Grizzly Night Comes to Home Entertainment". Future of the Force. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ^ "Grizzly Night". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ Lipset, Joe (February 2, 2026). "Grizzly Night (2026) Spoiler-Free Review". Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Adelgaard, Karina (January 29, 2026). "Grizzly Night – Movie Review (3/5)". Heaven of Horror. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Muir, Nathaniel (January 28, 2026). "'Grizzly Night' review: Bear attack movie with a focus on people". AIPT. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Hoad, Phil (January 27, 2026). "Grizzly Night review – animals attack in campsite thriller of rogue bears and wayward teens". The Guardian. Retrieved February 10, 2026.