The Night Jane Went Insane is written and directed by Zach Lorkiewicz. It’s about the titular Jane and the night she starts hearing strange voices on the radio. One might assume the next thing that happens is she goes insane, and maybe she does, or maybe it’s something a little more interesting. 

Jane doesn’t have much dialogue. Most of the dialogue stems from the voices she hears. This doesn’t give way to traditional character exploration, but there is more depth here than one might assume. What is missing in dialogue is made up for through visual storytelling. Attentive eyes will grasp the arc of Jane’s life: her dreams, interests, and disappointments. Despite the lack of dialogue, Brinke Stevens‘ portrayal of Jane is excellent. Michelle Bauer is the voice, and she does a great job being both comforting and concerning simultaneously. 

It’s a boon to Bauer‘s performance that the sound is fantastic. The Night Jane Went Insane is such an adventurous listen. Headphones are highly recommended. The music is pleasant, used intelligently, and perfectly complements whatever mood is being invoked at the time. A lot is being done with a little. There is intrigue, melancholy, and humor. Ultimately, more than anything, it’s just fun. The visuals play a major part in achieving this sense of fun. Both the environment and the way Jane dresses are interesting right off the bat. The addition of creative editing takes what is already there and elevates it. It’s disorienting in the best way possible. Part of the reason the humor works is due to how much the editing elevates it. It’s almost as if the editing itself is telling the joke. The lighting and cinematography create the perfect atmosphere for the story being told. The effects are digital. They plant this story firmly into analog horror territory. They aren’t seamless, but they are as effective as they need to be. 

The Night Jane Went Insane is worth some attention. I think as long as you aren’t averse to a little surrealism you will probably find a lot to enjoy here, and that’s great. More importantly, it shows Zach Lorkiewicz is worth your attention, and that’s even better. 

8 out of 10