One Night Only is a romantic comedy that chooses to see the bright side of fascism. That’s not an exaggeration — at one point, one character literally says out loud, “Maybe the fascists were right about this one.” That’s just one of many moments that make this movie, written by Travis Braun and directed by Will Gluck, a real mindfuck of an experience.
The advertising around One Night Only has been a bit coy about its “The Purge but for dating” premise, which makes the opening title cards play like a gut-punch: Three years ago, Congress enacted a mandate banning all premarital sex, except for one night a year. It’s a law enforced by biosensors that for some reason every adult over the age of 18 agreed to have implanted in their wrists. They were at least allowed to pick what shape the biosensor looks like. That’s right, the government-mandated chastity devices can be customized!
Here’s the important thing: This new mandate, while not necessarily popular, is treated as a totally normal part of life. Yes, there are nods to resistance at the edges of the frame — posters saying “repeal,” graffiti scrawled on walls reading “Fuck the Mandate!” But this movie depicts a society that all too easily has surrendered yet another personal liberty. Maybe it’s not such a random notion, considering that in the real world sexual activity is on the decline. But there’s still something chilling about the hard sell One Night Only gives to the idea.
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Making the cognitive dissonance all the more profound is that this nightmare America is the backdrop for what is otherwise a pretty charming rom-com, with a dreamy score by Este Haim and Christopher Stracey and dance pop needle drops that scream romance. Owen (Callum Turner) owns a successful pizza shop, but his girlfriend (Maya Hawke) thinks he’s too stuck in a rut and wants to sleep with someone else. Meanwhile, Allie (Monica Barbaro) sings commercial jingles for cash but what she really wants is to connect — with an audience through her music, or with another person on a level beyond sex.
While the rest of New York City bangs it out, Owen and Allie have a wild night of disastrous attempts to take advantage of their temporary freedom from government oppression. The gags that keep them apart and bring them together feature a range of silly and unexpected twists, and Turner and Barbaro have a natural, warm chemistry that energizes their scenes, the movie teasing out their connection to build up just the right amount of momentum.
As charming as the central duo are together, though… Sorry, exactly what kinds of sexual content were abolished by Congress? There are some charts seen on screen with diagrams of approved versus banned behavior, but the camera doesn’t stay focused on them long enough. To borrow the classic baseball metaphor, what base are you allowed to reach before your biosensor alerts the police?
Oh, while we’re at it, when it comes to “sliding home,” why are single people required to use condoms when they do get to have sex on this one night?
Also, why, in that case, are stores running out of condoms? Why haven’t Americans been preparing for this day all year long, stocking up in bulk? Are condoms outlawed the other 364 days of the year?
Also, homosexual couples are seen on screen, but is it really plausible that a government that goes this far in policing sexual behavior would actually be cool with anything outside the heteronormative realm?
Seriously, Americans took this one lying down?
The answer to that last question was yes, at least in this reality. Even big corporations have apparently cashed in on the sex ban as a marketing opportunity: Multiple real-life brands, including Duo Lingo, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Red Bull, are featured on screen with “The Night”-specific advertising. (“Get Lingual for One Night,” says one of many Duo Lingo subway ads).
Oh, and let’s not forget the product placement for Durex, the brand of the single condom Ally and Owen are able to track down that night. There is literally a scene where the word “Durex” is repeated at least two dozen times, and it makes sense in context, but the fact that hours later I can remember the brand name of the condom… Well, Durex got what it paid for.
Not that a Durex actually gets used on screen. For a movie this hyperfocused on sex, the movie’s R rating is largely earned thanks to the proliferation of F-bombs being dropped and the occasional naked tush. It’s otherwise relatively chaste, in alignment with this movie’s not-so-subtle message that premarital sex isn’t the answer if you want to find love.
That’s what the aforementioned character meant when he said “maybe the fascists were right about this one” — by outlawing premarital sex except for one night a year, it makes sex more special, and also forces people to prioritize emotional connections the rest of the time. And that idea gets screamed even louder by the happy conclusion ultimately found by its leads.
Romantic comedies tend to feel like they take place in their own little world. But every time One Night Only attempted to explain the political landscape that led to this situation, I felt myself going a little more banana-grams. It’s all so deeply unsettling, because it imagines a society that would buy party hats celebrating the one night of the year they have an ounce of bodily autonomy. An America that wouldn’t just surrender further to fascism, but turn it into branding.
One Night Only arrives in theaters on August 7th. Check out the latest trailer below.
