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Drama thriller

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night (2022): Cast & Ratings

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night (2022) movie poster

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night is a 2022 drama thriller directed by Gonzalo Calzada, starring Pepe Soriano as Ulises, Desirée Salgueiro and Nicolás Scarpino. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and was made on a reported $600,000 budget. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
Echo Score
87
budget
$600K
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Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 47m (107 min)
Director
Gonzalo Calzada
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Horror
Original language
Spanish
Budget
$600K
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night About?

The premise of Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night without spoilers.

As dusk approaches his hundredth year, Ulysses, a solitary centenarian, is forced to confront his impending mortality. On the verge of his final moments, a captivating mystery surfaces, prompting him to revisit his extensive history and the delicate nature of the reality he has cherished for so long. The unfolding events challenge his perception of time and memory.

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • night
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Cast & crew

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night Cast & Characters

Pepe Soriano leads the cast as Ulises, with Desirée Salgueiro as Elena and Nicolás Scarpino as Carlos. Directed by Gonzalo Calzada; 8 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night

· 4 more
From the director

More from Gonzalo Calzada

More films directed by Gonzalo Calzada: Nocturna: Side B — Where the Elephants Go to Die, Nocturna - The Great Old Man’s Night, Luciferina and Resurrection.

Full filmography
Ratings

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 87/100, strongest in character & emotion (92) and weakest in story & flow (84).

87 /100

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night Echo Score Breakdown

The film delivers a profoundly affecting meditation on mortality through meticulously crafted visuals and a resonant soundscape, anchored by a powerful central performance. Direction employs muted, green‑tinged cinematography and symbolic doorways to underline memory and decay, while the narrative weaves flashbacks and supernatural elements into a cohesive emotional arc. Although the climax leans toward predictability, the cumulative effect remains haunting and emotionally truthful, establishing the work as a noteworthy entry in genre‑blending cinema.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, the film benefits from a disciplined visual language marked by muted, gray‑green palettes and careful composition of doorways as metaphoric portals. The cinematography captures intimate close‑ups that emphasize aging and frailty, while the editing maintains measured pacing that supports the contemplative tone. Production design reinforces the sense of decay, contributing to a cohesive aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 92

    When evaluating character and emotion, the central performance by Pepe Soriano stands out as a nuanced portrayal of an aging mind confronting regret. Supporting actors deliver authentic interactions that deepen the protagonist’s isolation. The ensemble’s chemistry conveys a palpable sense of loss, allowing the audience to empathize with the frailty of memory and familial guilt.

  • Story & Flow 84

    The narrative weaves a coherent yet lyrical structure, following the protagonist’s final night through fragmented memories and spectral visits. Pacing balances contemplative reflection with intermittent tension, sustaining engagement without sacrificing emotional depth. While the resolution leans on familiar tropes of reconciliation, the overall storytelling remains original in its integration of horror motifs with an intimate life review.

  • Sensory Experience 86

    The sensory experience is marked by a pulse‑driven soundtrack that mirrors the protagonist’s heartbeat and the unsettling whine of his hearing aid, reinforcing immersion. Sound design accentuates quiet moments of dread, while visual composition employs a greenish decay motif that unifies the film’s melancholic atmosphere. Together they heighten emotional resonance.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    Rewatch value is high owing to the film’s layered emotional themes and subtle visual cues that reveal new meaning upon subsequent viewings. The nuanced performance and atmospheric soundscape encourage repeated contemplation of mortality and memory. While the plot remains straightforward, its depth and craftsmanship reward audiences who return for a deeper appreciation.

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FAQ

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night?

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).

When was Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night released?

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night was released on January 18, 2022.

Who directed Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night?

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night was directed by Gonzalo Calzada.

More films by Gonzalo Calzada

Who is in the cast of Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night?

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night stars Pepe Soriano as Ulises, Desirée Salgueiro as Elena and Nicolás Scarpino as Carlos, among 8 credited actors.

What was the budget of Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night?

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night had a reported budget of $600,000.

How is Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night rated?

Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night has 6.7/10 on IMDb and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Does Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night have a post-credit scene?

No. Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night in?

The original language of Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night is Spanish.

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