Film Review - The Dark And The Wicked (2020)

Another Shudder exclusive playing out like paranormal Texas farm activity that hits the ground running only to get creepier as the horrific scenario progresses. Directed by Bryan Bertino, creator of one of my favourite, under-assuming scary films of all time, The Strangers (2008).

After being warned not to visit, brother and sister Michael and Louise arrive at the isolated property to assist their bedridden father and see how their mother is handling the pressures of home care whilst maintaining the property and its animals.

Sadly, she takes her own life in the barn after a chopping board mishap cutting off fingers instead of slicing carrots. Things are not what they seem as creaks and bumps in the night are equalled by weird visions or whispering voices.

Still in bed, the dad wheezes away but ghosts of some description seem to be looming in on his soul.

A preacher pops in (veteran character actor, Xander Berkeley) on the non-religious family and proves only to be a menace, talking ripe to the siblings about how the wolf has already arrived whether they are believers or not.

Related: Fantasia Festival 2020 – Film Review – The Dark And The Wicked (2020)

The potentially possessed man of the cloth pushes boundaries which proves to be the case just before dawn one morning outside their front door, enticing the pair to ‘ him’ outside.

Jump scares are mixed with slow moving tension building revelations of panic and confusion, the entity likes to manipulate minds into self-harm.

Marin Ireland, whom I ed from ‘Umbrella Academy’, is solid as Louise, while Michael Abbot Jr, has less to do as brother Michael but is equally as convincing. As a demonic visitor disguised as a grieving child, Ella Ballentine has one of the best scenes in the film.

Animal lovers beware of a mass slaughter, not dwelled on but enough to make one uncomfortable, gore fiends will be happy with a blood-soaked knitting needle attack and generous horror elements in the rural setting.