As a horror enthusiast with a deep appreciation for films that push the boundaries of the genre, I was absolutely captivated by Damian Mc Carthy‘s latest offering, “Oddity.” Having been blown away by his previous film, “Caveat,” I eagerly anticipated this new work and was not disappointed.
Damian Mc Carthy, writer/director of the 2020 film “Caveat,” is known for taking bold approaches. In this movie, an amnesiac man agrees to look after a young girl while keeping himself chained to specific areas in the house. This premise sets the stage for a more ambitious project than many of his peers, and it only gets stranger from there. Although Mc Carthy’s newest film, “Oddity,” begins with a more conventional horror storyline, he continues to innovate by combining classic horror techniques with unique twists, resulting in a chilling and original experience for viewers.
In the beginning, Oddity finds Dani (Carried by Carolyn Bracken) residing all on her own in a secluded house, anticipating her husband Ted’s (portrayed by Gwilym Lee) arrival from his position at a psychiatric facility. Suddenly, a knock at the door startles Dani as one of Ted’s previous patients appears, warning her that he’s spotted an intruder in her home. The story unfolds to reveal that Dani has met with a tragic end, allegedly at the hands of this patient.
About a year past, Dani’s sister Darcy (portrayed by Bracken) unexpectedly visits Ted’s residence, finding him there with his new lover Yana (Caroline Menton). Accompanying Darcy is an oversized wooden figure of a man, its features etched in permanent pain. As you might guess, a succession of strange events transpires, focusing on Yana and Darcy. Claiming to be a medium, Darcy asserts that someone else caused Dani’s demise.
Just like Oddity and Caveat, both films exhibit an unyielding creativity in eliciting fear, but they share another commonality – they predominantly take place in a solitary location. In the case of Oddity, it’s a family home filled with nostalgia, which may not appear menacing at first glance, but its shadows harbor an ever-present and unsettling dread. The elongated corridors and hidden corners serve to confuse both characters and viewers, raising the question of whether what we perceive is real or merely a figment of our imagination. Mc Carthy expertly employs this ambiguity to generate numerous suspenseful scenes that leave us guessing at the lurking presence behind each corner.
In simpler terms, McCarthy’s past film received rave reviews from horror enthusiasts, giving him more courage and assurance as a director. The fear he portrays in “Oddity” is persistent, chilling, and self-assured, even if some scenes appear far-fetched. Although “Oddity” follows a clear storyline, the themes it explores, such as home invasions, haunted houses, and monster attacks, have echoes of classic anthology films. McCarthy skillfully combines terror in these areas by first allowing you to settle into the type of fear you’ll encounter, then surprising you with unexpected twists.
McCarthy’s ability to create frightening experiences is remarkable, whether dealing with real-life dangers or supernatural horrors. His skillful direction, pacing, and timing result in some genuinely startling scares. Unlike many Hollywood horror films that focus solely on jump scares, “Oddity” builds an atmosphere of unease from the very beginning, enhancing the terror with unexpected jolts. The movie could still be frightening without these sudden shocks, but McCarthy expertly adds them to heighten the fear for viewers already on edge.
The storyline features a mannequin the size of a human seated dangerously at a dinner table, and Darcy, who runs an unusual antique shop, being blind but claiming to communicate with the deceased by handling their belongings. This setup is inherently absurd. Fortunately, Brackon, Lee, Menton, and even Ted’s orderly Ivan, portrayed by Steve Wall, grasped Mc Carthy’s intended tone. They delivered over-the-top performances that complemented the absurdity of the situation without veering into caricatured acting. The entire cast successfully navigated the thin line between delivering believable performances and acknowledging the outlandish nature of the genre for their characters.
As a huge fan of horror movies, I can confidently say that “Oddity” will leave you feeling unsettled and scared, just like the best films in this genre do. The movie is filled with intriguing concepts that keep you on the edge of your seat, but it may leave some viewers feeling puzzled due to its complex narrative. Mc Carthy doesn’t give us all the answers, instead leaving many questions unanswered about what truly occurred in that house. It’s unclear if this was an intentional artistic choice or if Mc Carthy himself wasn’t sure of a definitive explanation. Regardless, “Oddity” delivers scares no matter what type of horror resonates with you. Mc Carthy proves once again that “Caveat” was not a fluke and we’ve only begun to experience the terrors he plans to inflict upon us.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Oddity hits theaters on July 19th.
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2024-07-15 18:40