The Long Long Night

What does it take to dissolve a friendship? Apparently, one night will do the trick. But the repair process? Unclear. Written by Mark Duplass and Barret O’Brien, “The Long Long Night” takes on the relationship between friends and a study in how they work towards mending their friendship after the fallout of one fateful night.  

For friends Pete (Mark Duplass) and Carroll (Barret O’Brien), one night literally changes everything for them. Six months prior in a hotel room the men come to a life-changing decision and believe both are on the same page…only for the course of events to go completely awry. In present day, both men start working towards communicating with one another and moving forward as friends again. But it’s not always easy, especially as the reason for their fallout becomes clearer and their present-day reconciliation hits a few snags along the way. 

Duplass and O’Brien have crafted an authentic, yet absurdly humorous story with “The Long Long Night.” Pete and Carroll’s motives to remove themselves from the world isn’t necessarily funny…yet it is. Duplass and O’Brien’s friendship also parlays quite well into their respective characters onscreen, even when they are at one another’s throats. You get that they are not afraid to make their characters get physical with one another and be vulnerable. It’s clear that both Pete and Carroll have their own issues to work through after that one night, but where does that leave their friendship? And what will that friendship look like in time when both are now able to talk through the events like grown adults…or at least try to?  

It’s hard to pick a moment that sticks out, but watching the interactions from within the hotel room are quite enlightening to watch. Despite the longevity of the friendship between Pete and Carroll, it is apparent that their friendship seems to be on some shaky ground. Instead of Pete and Carroll being on the same page, both men grapple with their own turmoil and vulnerabilities. As Carroll realizes that he wants to continue living while Pete is ready to go through with their pact, you watch the devolvement and disintegration of what once was a rock-solid friendship. And how long will it take to get back to that rock-solid status? We’re not sure. 

Additionally, I also appreciate the subtle nod to Duplass’s prior project with his brother, Jay. With the end of Room 104 and its situation-based storylines in one single hotel room, bringing that element into this story feels quite appropriate. And fortunately, “The Long Long Night” seems to give us a nice little reminder and a nod to the prior series without encroaching on the actual storyline of this project.   

“The Long Long Night” gives us a “will they, won’t they” story laced with a little bit of humor, a load of darkness and a large dose of reality. Will Pete and Carroll ever be able to come to terms with what happened? Or should they go their separate ways? One thing’s for certain, I can’t wait to find out.