Netflix’s New 6-Part Crime Thriller Quietly Rewrites Its Bestselling Book’s Story

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Netflix’s new series, That Night, is based on the popular thriller novel of the same name by Gillian McAllister, but the show significantly changes the book’s plot – a common trend with many recent streaming adaptations. Psychological thrillers are quickly becoming a very popular genre on streaming platforms, and That Night is poised to be one of the biggest hits of 2026.

Shows like 56 Days on Prime Video, All Her Fault on Peacock, and His & Hers on Netflix are tapping into the growing popularity of a suspenseful genre that combines the elements of crime dramas with the complicated relationships found in domestic mysteries. These psychological thrillers often go further than typical murder mysteries, exploring darker and more morally complex themes.

Shows like HBO’s Sharp Objects and the earlier hit True Detective are intensely unsettling and explore dark, psychological themes, almost reaching horror levels. This is a key part of what makes these types of shows so popular, as they delve much deeper into complex characters and disturbing scenarios than procedural dramas like Bosch or FBI.

That Night Changes The Setting Of Gillian McAllister’s Bestselling Psychological Thriller

Pablo Ricciardulli/Netflix

I just finished watching Netflix’s new thriller, That Night, and it really got me thinking. The story immediately throws these women I quickly came to like into a terrible situation, and then it’s fascinating – and disturbing – to watch how they start to make choices they normally wouldn’t. It honestly made me wonder what I would do if I were in their shoes – it’s a really gripping series.

The film That Night takes place in the Dominican Republic and follows three sisters during a wild night out. Things take a dark turn when the youngest sister accidentally hits a man with her car, and he dies. She tells everyone he threatened her with a gun, claiming it was self-defense.

Things really hit the fan when my sisters and I found out the guy we accidentally killed was a police officer. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about a mistake, it was a full-blown crisis. We had to get out of the country, and fast, but keeping quiet and protecting each other became incredibly difficult. It really pushed our loyalty to the limit, because we were trying to cover up something one of us did, and it was tearing us apart.

The new miniseries, That Night, is adapted from Gillian McAllister’s 2021 novel of the same name. Similar to her other popular books like Wrong Place Wrong Time and Famous Last Words, the novel received positive reviews when it was first published. However, the miniseries deviates from the book’s plot in several key ways, beginning with a change in location.

Changing That Night’s Setting Makes The Netflix Crime Thriller More Unpredictable

Laia Lluch / Netflix

The story unfolds in both England and Italy. The three sisters at the heart of the tale are from England, and a tragic hit-and-run takes place at a villa in Italy where they’re on holiday. This makes the setting of That Night, the Dominican Republic, particularly interesting. Unlike some recent Netflix psychological thrillers, such as the 2024 series Ripley starring Andrew Scott, which closely follow their original stories, That Night takes a different approach.

Unlike the original story, the film That Night immediately surprises viewers by changing the location. This prevents those familiar with the book from predicting the plot, even though the characters still retain some of their core traits. Changing the setting is a clever way to keep the audience guessing.

People unfamiliar with the original story won’t even realize the setting has been altered, and the Dominican Republic is a fascinating and rarely used backdrop for a suspenseful thriller. While England and Italy have been featured in many similar series – like Run Away and Ripley – the Dominican Republic provides a unique and exciting new location for fans of the genre.

Viewers familiar with the novel That Night is based on can expect a fresh interpretation, not a simple, scene-by-scene recreation. As successful adaptations like the 2025 hit The Girlfriend have shown, altering the plot of a psychological thriller can often breathe new life into a story that might otherwise feel predictable.

Why So Many Thriller Adaptations Change Their Source Stories

Pablo Ricciardulli/Netflix

Sometimes, TV shows based on psychological thriller novels will change the book’s location to make it clear they aren’t following the story exactly. This prevents viewers from simply searching online for the book’s ending and encourages them to keep watching the show instead.

Beyond practical reasons, there’s a creative argument for changing a show’s location. As Netflix’s You demonstrates – having moved beyond the plot of its original books over five seasons – a strong show can successfully set itself apart by changing settings, plot points, and characters.

This approach lets the show be judged as a fresh take on the story, instead of just a copy of the novel. By changing the location, the series immediately signals to viewers – even those familiar with the book – that they should expect surprises and unexpected developments.

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2026-03-24 21:42