Why the Director Cut Many Nude Scenes in One Night Only

Director Will Gluck is shifting romantic comedy conventions with his latest film, One Night Only, by significantly reducing explicit nudity after observing audience discomfort during editing tests, according to an interview with Variety cited by detikcom.

Will Gluck Cuts Explicit Nudity in One Night Only

The romantic comedy One Night Only explores a premise where the government legalizes premarital sexual relations for one night each year. According to director Will Gluck, the concept draws frequent comparisons to the franchise The Purge, though the narrative centers on romance rather than criminal acts. The film stars Monica Barbaro as Allie, an aspiring singer who frequently stars in pharmaceutical commercials, alongside Callum Turner as Owen, a pizza shop owner navigating relationship troubles. The two characters cross paths repeatedly during 12 chaotic hours in New York City on the designated night.

Despite filming numerous street scenes featuring explicit scenarios, Gluck chose to cut much of the nudity. Data gathered during the editing process revealed that audiences felt uncomfortable viewing adult situations on large screens. “Every time the audience sees nudity or mature situations in a big movie theater, they feel uncomfortable. I cut a tremendous amount of scenes because the benefit didn’t outweigh the negative impact,” Gluck told Variety. He noted that trimming the footage helped maintain viewer connection to the characters.

Navigating World-Building and Narrative Focus

Rather than bogging down the runtime with exposition, Gluck intentionally sidelined the complex logic and rules governing the film’s universe. When addressing viewer and interviewer questions regarding the premise’s mechanics, the director emphasized that emotional character arcs take priority over logistical world-building.

“The cast members come to talk shows and spend 80 percent of their time just explaining the rules of the world in this movie, when that’s not what the story is about,” Gluck stated. “We have to let people see it for themselves. That’s the best tool we have, especially for something as crazy as this.”

Soundtrack Strategy and the “WOM-com” Phenomenon

Music plays a central role in establishing the tone of One Night Only. Gluck carefully curated a selection of popular songs that are often considered embarrassing but have high appeal to drive the narrative forward.

Building on lessons from his last film, Gluck anticipates that positive word-of-mouth will sustain the film’s theatrical run. By catching audiences unawares with unexpected emotional resonance, he believes the project will thrive through organic recommendations—a phenomenon he labels a “WOM-com” or word-of-mouth comedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the premise of One Night Only?

The film follows a government-sanctioned night where premarital sexual relations are legal for 12 hours, focusing on the romance between characters Allie and Owen in New York City.

Why did director Will Gluck cut explicit scenes from the film?

According to Gluck’s interviews, data gathered during editing showed that modern cinema audiences often feel uncomfortable during explicit scenes, prompting him to remove the footage to preserve character connection.

Who stars in One Night Only?

The film stars Monica Barbaro as Allie and Callum Turner as Owen.