I do not consider myself someone who scares easily. Sure, a jump scare may get to me and make me uneasy, but it takes a lot to shake me to my utter core and have me wincing and nearly looking away through a film. Usually this would occur in extreme graphic violence that is literally too much to handle, but it is rare for a film with dread and unease to cause this reaction out of me. While I originally proclaimed I was going to bill Oz Perkins with my therapy bills (thanks Longlegs), I am now pursuing Damian McCarthy for unexpected medical bills to help me regain my sanity, his newest feature Oddity is not for the faint of heart nor the easily scared, but holy hell does it sit with you and linger under your skin long after the credits roll.
Caroline Menton as Yana in Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY. Courtesy of Colm Hogan. An IFC Films and Shudder Release.
The movie focuses on a couple, Ted (Gwilym Lee) and his wife Dani (Carolyn Bracken), who move into a house on the outskirts of town. It is creepy, old, and needs a lot of elbow grease, but Dani doesn’t seem particularly bothered by any of it. Ted works as a doctor at the local psychiatric ward, stuck on evening shifts, leaving Dani alone in the house. She’s uneasy but doesn’t complain. One night, a patient shows up at the door warning her that someone snuck in the house while she left the door open to retrieve something from the car. Unfortunately, Dani should’ve adhered to the warning as she was brutally and violently murdered. Ted grieves, but has clearly moved on as he is now living with his girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton) and tries to keep contact with Dani’s twin Darcy (also Carolyn Bracken). Darcy misinterprets a conversation with Ted and shows up at the house on the anniversary of her sister’s death with a gift, a wooden golem-like creature that was supposedly a hand-me-down from their mother. As Ted has to go to work, Yana and Darcy are left alone and things start happening. Without spoiling anything, this is more than just your typical ghost story. Darcy is a medium and the exploration of that supernatural element lends itself to this chilling story so effortlessly and creates a true world of tension.
Carolyn Bracken as Darcy in Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY. Courtesy of Colm Hogan. An IFC Films and Shudder Release.
Damian McCarthy (Caveat) both masterfully directs this bone-chilling nightmare and creates a world for the audience to get so submerged in that its truly impossible to shake. Neither the writing nor the direction takes a hit of missed moments or issues, which is a tough feat to accomplish. There can be one argument made, but it is explainable once the whole picture unfolds … dumb decision making but certainly explainable. However, the performances from both Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Carolyn Bracken (The Quiet Girl) are what make Oddity one of the most exciting, terrifying horror movies of the year in a year where the summer has been stacked with brilliant horror movies terrifying and electrifying audiences, a year where Longlegs, Cuckoo, Late Night with the Devil, amongst others, are released in a similar time frame, truly proving that horror is alive, well, and thriving.
A scene from Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY. Courtesy of Colm Hogan. An IFC Films and Shudder Release.
Oddity will make its audience incredibly uneasy no matter how comfortable they are with horror. A film that leaves such unease, dread, and tension throughout its running time with performances that simply hold you still are hard to come by, and Oddity brings all of that to the forefront to create a horrifying experience that is sure to please horror fanatics. Simply put, Oddity is a rarity and excels even in a strong year that is only at the halfway point, making it one of the best horror movies of 2024.
Screened during Fantasia International Film Festival 2024.
In select theaters beginning July 19th, 2024.
For more information, head either to the official Oddity Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 Oddity webpage or the IFC Films webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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