Japanese actress Moeka Hoshi, of Shōgun fame, stars as Airi, a traveling medium who goes from one location to the next helping spirits pass over to the other side. Accompanied by the ghostly apparition of her deceased sister—whom she regularly converses with through mirrors and other reflective surfaces—Airi takes on a new gig at an old, secluded hotel, where the new owners are convinced something restless is lurking within its halls.

Confident in her abilities and certain she can help whatever spirit remains trapped there move on, Airi simply requests a few days to solve the mystery that has burdened the owners. From the very first night, however, it becomes clear that things may not go as smoothly as she imagined. The ghost roaming the halls is no ordinary apparition, and the more Airi uncovers about the hotel’s history, the more danger she finds herself in.

Despite drawing inspiration from past genre efforts from both East and West, Never After Dark thankfully never quite falls into the familiar trappings and predictability we so often see from supernatural horror. Focusing more on atmosphere, the movie is a slow-burn, character-driven film that largely steers clear of expected jump scares and instead centers on its characters and gradually unfolding story, which was a pleasant surprise.

That doesn’t mean the film is lacking in creepy moments or unsettling imagery. The main ghost, in particular, makes for an eerie presence, with a large, deformed, gaping void where its mouth and jaw would normally be. As more of the story is revealed, things never quite reach a level I’d consider particularly shocking, but the mystery and atmosphere are strong enough to keep it an intriguing watch all the way through to the end.