“Night Nurse” – A Stylized Debut Set in a Luxury Retirement Community

Georgia Bernstein’s directorial debut, *Night Nurse*, follows newly hired caregiver Eleni (Cemre Paksoy) at a high-end Midwest retirement home. She becomes entangled with resident Douglas (Bruce McKenzie), an elderly man who draws her into a series of telephone scams while their relationship grows increasingly intimate. The narrative blurs the boundaries between caregiving, desire, and deception, culminating in a dangerous, erotic con. The film runs 1 hour 35 minutes and is not rated.

New York Times

*Night Nurse* premiered in the NEXT section of the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, marking Bernstein’s first feature. Independent Film Company (formerly IFC Films) is slated to release the movie in U.S. theaters on July 10, 2026. Production designer Breanne Ward creates an anachronistic aesthetic that deliberately distances the setting from strict realism, while the film’s use of vintage coiled-cord phones serves as a visual motif.

Variety Magazine

• Georgia Bernstein – writer-director, debuting with this stylized thriller.

Variety Magazine

• Cemre Paksoy – portrays Eleni, the observant yet skittish caregiver.

New York Times

• Bruce McKenzie – plays Douglas, the enigmatic elderly patient.

Variety Magazine

• Eleonore Hendricks – appears as Mona, a seasoned nurse whose line “It’s amazing to be needed” underscores the film’s exploration of purpose.

New York Times

• Mimi Rogers – assumes the role of Dr. Mann, the facility’s director, adding a layer of ambiguity regarding institutional culpability.

Variety Magazine

Reviewers note that the film prioritizes the “taking”—both psychological and erotic—over conventional notions of compassionate caregiving. The plot’s “bait and switch” structure invites audiences to question whether the on-screen interactions constitute role-play, foreplay, or outright fraud, often leaving key motivations unresolved. The stylized setting and deliberate anachronisms are praised for heightening the unsettling atmosphere, though some critics argue the narrative’s ambiguity may frustrate viewers seeking clearer resolution.

Variety Magazine

• “It’s amazing to be needed,” — Mona (Eleonore Hendricks)

New York Times

• “Night Nurse” begins with its own bait and switch: “Are we witnessing role play, foreplay or a scam? All three?” — (NY Times review)

New York Times

• “the line blurs between care and desire, devotion and delusion,” — film synopsis (Variety)

Variety Magazine

• “Night Nurse,” which premiered in the NEXT section at Sundance Film Festival in January. — (Variety)

New York Times