The Wasteland Reviewer

100 Nights of Hero (2025) Written Review

What is one of the most challenging things to overcome in life? The shackles of unrequited love. Love is such a powerful force that has influenced people to do so many different things in life and still do today. Love has no bounds as it transcends any type of societal expectations or restrictions. But love does not translate to connection as timing and so many other factors get in the way. With Julia Jackman’s adaptation of 100 Nights of Hero, audiences are dropped into a complex web of love, connection, and seduction. 

What does Jackman bring to the table adapting this alluring and compelling story? The amount of personality and atmosphere is consistently overflowing. From the opening exposition dump, there is a distinct dreamlike aura around every shot in the film. The crisp primary colors and lighter hues are striking when in stark contrast to the blacks and whites on display. The framing and blocking of every shot are so precise and compelling. Cinematographer Xenia Patricia captures such an alluring atmosphere that balances perfectly framed and balanced wider shots while capturing deeply intimate moments of passion and lust. The sequences where Hero and her love Cherry share their moments together just spring off the screen. The music is enveloping and fully engrossing as Oliver Coates composes a score that is really a soundscape. Each scene feels so specific and idiosyncratic, giving the audience a rich visual and auditory experience that is hard to ignore. Jackman’s film washes over you with vibes and feeling for sure. 

Does Jackman’s screenplay adapt Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel to the fullest? Jackman’s film wears its ideas and messages on its sleeves. There are no questions on what this film is about and how it is bolstering female connections and storytelling. This is not a mystery. This is a graphic novel written by a woman, adapted to the screen by a woman, about two women attempting to connect and carry female stories forward. This is a romance that is a forbidden love between two women that is overshadowed by a patriarchal marriage and a sleazy bet between two men about getting a woman into bed. Cherry is stuck between a husband who has no desire for her and a man who demands her body for his own self needs. The only force that can save her is another woman…her “best friend” and confidant. There are plenty of fantastical trappings from the Birdman (who everyone seems to worship) and a physical embodiment of the moon. But these only appear to serve clear messaging. The unfortunate element of this cinematic experience is that it lacks a deeper exploration of its themes. There are plenty of visual styling and artistic elements thrown in but they just are dressing over something simple. The methodical storytelling gives plenty of space for artistic expression but feels more like the stretching of an overly simple story idea for feature length.

How does this talented cast stand out in this vibrant and stylish film? Emma Corrin is certainly the spark plug for the whole film. Their expressions are so clearly captured with precise and purposeful facial expressions and body language. Corrin says more with a sly smirk that pages of dialogue can. There is a magnetism that is radiating from their performances that grabs not only Cherry but the audience too. Maika Monroe cues into a specific distance and aloofness to her situation. There is something sad and somber about her expressions at the beginning of the film and her palpable chemistry with Corrin bleeds life and passion from her like poison from a wound. Nicholas Galitzine is hammy and horny in his strong and intensely masculine performance. His physicality sells it all as he attempts to lure Cherry into his bed. His aggressive masculinity is so authentic for this role of nothing more than a man with a singular focus. Actors like Richard E. Grant and Felicity Jones appear for minimal time on screen and inject some presence with all impressive make-up, hairstyling, and costumes included. 

Does Jackman bring life to this creative and alluring story? 100 Nights of Hero is a quirky, funny, and strange cinematic experience. There is a specific frequency that the audience needs to queue into that is quite idiosyncratic, which might be a bit too alienating for most. There are powerful ideas that are bluntly explored. There is plenty of style that Jackman and company inject into the film that creates a vibrant and interesting world that wraps around this simple story. This is a bold and creative expression that never quite digs deep enough to truly captivate. But entertaining is enough to make this a worthwhile experience.