The Overnighters

"The Overnighters" is a documentary that sneaks up on you. Set in the oil boom town of Williston, North Dakota, it follows Pastor Jay Reinke as he opens his church to desperate job seekers flocking in with hopes of striking it rich. The set-up feels almost fictional—a small community in crisis, an overwhelmed pastor, and droves of men sleeping in cars and on church floors—but everything is painfully real.

What really pulled me in was the way it never lets viewers sit comfortably. The film doesn’t paint anyone as a clear hero or villain; instead, it gently unpacks Reinke’s motivations, the fears of the townspeople, and the wild hope (and heartbreak) of the workers. There’s a tension and empathy that keeps the story moving, and it feels more personal than many documentaries I’ve seen.

Cinematography-wise, it has this unvarnished, almost fly-on-the-wall aesthetic. You can sense the cold Dakota air and the cramped spaces, and those visuals add a layer of authenticity. Director Jesse Moss isn’t afraid to linger where things get awkward, which I appreciated, though some scenes dragged or felt repetitive by the last act.

The story unearthed more than I anticipated. There are revelations about Pastor Reinke that come as a real jolt. Sometimes, though, it’s almost too intimate. The emotional unraveling towards the end hits hard, and while it holds nothing back, it might feel heavy-handed to anyone expecting a more detached look at the “boomtown” phenomenon.

You would enjoy this if you’re into documentaries that mix social issues, personal drama, and moral complexity—not just a dry recounting of facts. If you liked "American Factory" or "The Work," this has a similarly immersive approach. Don’t expect easy answers—just a powerful look at ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.