Night Crawlers

Raven van Dorst begins in Washington and speaks with a Flare activist who protests against Trump day and night. During a debate night, Raven meets Republican students who claim there are only two genders. This conviction is also echoed by Eugene, who tirelessly works through the night to pass Republican legislation. Raven then travels into the hinterland, where support for Trump is strong. There, they discuss motivations and concerns and meets, among others, Kim, who rescues snakes and works with snakeskin. Raven is also unexpectedly confronted by someone with a drawn weapon.

Raven is confronted by Kelli, who approaches Raven with a drawn weapon out of fear and distrust. As a Black woman, Kelli lives a self-sufficient and isolated life. Via Nashville, Raven travels on and meets a transgender ex-soldier who was discharged because of his identity. During a rodeo, Raven speaks to cowboys and afterwards to a woman who was unjustly imprisoned for fifteen years. Raven also delves into two extreme worlds: a closed white community and a pro-life group that prays at night. Everywhere, it becomes visible how deeply rooted beliefs are and how they determine lives.

Raven meets Gabe, who says that his former homosexuality wasn't real. In Tulsa, Raven ends up at the Chili Bowl, an iconic racing event that is deeply ingrained in the local population. Afterward, Raven speaks to Phyllis, who is dependent on electricity for her heart device due to budget cuts and fears a power outage every night. Raven also meets Justin, who makes duck decoys, a beloved tradition in the region. While refueling, Raven encounters two men preparing for a notable hunt.

Raven travels with two men who are convinced of the existence of Bigfoot and are actively searching for it. In North Carolina, they end up in a trailer park, where Jenny and James are still bearing the brunt of a devastating hurricane. In a quiet residential neighborhood, Raven speaks to a child star who dreams of a breakthrough with his mother. Along the way, he encounters striking figures at a truck stop and in an abandoned hotel in a ghost town. Finally, he speaks with Oli, who, like Raven, identifies as non-binary and does not feel welcome in America.