Oddity review: Dread-inducing atmospheric horror film elicits full body chills

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As a seasoned horror enthusiast with a penchant for chilling films that leave me sleepless for nights on end, I can wholeheartedly vouch for Damian Mc Carthy’s latest masterpiece, “Oddity”. Much like a moth drawn to a flickering campfire, I was inexorably pulled into the haunting world of Dani and her family.

One night, a patient from your husband’s psychiatric facility comes to your home, claiming that someone briefly entered while you were outside getting something from your car. Your door was left open, inviting potential intruders. The patient urges you to let him in as he offers protection against the supposed intruder. However, there seems to be no one else present within your house. Now, you must decide whether to trust this stranger and allow him inside or risk that he might be deceiving you or simply mistaken, assuring yourself that nobody uninvited entered your home.

In the initial scene of the film “Oddity”, Dani (played by Carolyn Bracken) finds herself in a challenging predicament that sends chills down one’s spine. As a woman, her dilemma carries an eerie resonance. If I were in her shoes, I’d be equally unsure of my actions. Sadly for Dani, her decision leads to her own death, allegedly at the hands of Olin Boole (portrayed by Tadhg Murphy). In a tragic twist, Olin himself is later discovered brutally slain at the hospital.

In a remarkable acting feat by Bracken, Dani’s sister Darcy – who is also a blind psychic managing an unusual antique shop – doubts that Olin was responsible for her sister’s death and decides to investigate herself at the house where Dani perished. This move causes quite a nuisance for Dani’s widower, Dr. Ted Timmis (Gwilym Lee), who has since started a new relationship with Yana (Caroline Menton). Accompanying Darcy is an unsettling presence – a wooden mannequin with a wide-open mouth.

The film “Oddity” hails from the creative mind of Damian Mc Carthy, who previously gave us the eerie toy bunny in “Caveat”. Here, Mc Carthy delves into a blend of folklore-inspired horror and the suspense that arises from home invasion stories. Compared to his previous work, “Oddity” proves more effective in achieving its goals, sticking to a relatively straightforward concept that’s executed with chilling precision.

In this instance, McCarthy demonstrates his skill at crafting tension masterfully, producing one of the most terrifying horror films I’ve watched this year. It’s a film that sends shivers down your spine at numerous points and features a few genuinely startling jump scares. The only thing that comes close in terms of its eerie atmosphere is Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series, “The Haunting of Hill House,” which similarly made exceptional use of its setting.

The peculiarity grips you with an equally intense, heart-stopping sensation that makes your nerves quiver and leaves you utterly captivated. By the end of my shocked reaction, I had several small half-moon indentations on my cheek from where I pressed my face in terror.

Regardless if you’ve watched “Caveat” or not, don’t skip over “Oddity”. This movie, though a smaller release from IFC Films and Shudder, may slip under many radars. However, I sincerely hope it doesn’t because it’s one of the most praised horror films of the year for a valid reason.

Though you can now rent or purchase the movie on demand, Oddity will officially begin streaming on Shudder from September 27.

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2024-08-26 23:25