When Evil Lurks is a 2023 supernatural horror film directed by Demián Rugna, and the cast includes Ezequiel Rodríguez, Demián Salomon, Luis Ziembrowski, Silvia Sabater and Marcelo Michinaux.
In a rural Argentine town, two brothers confront an ancient evil that threatens their community, setting the stage for a gruesome genre showdown.
Building on the success of his 2017 film, Terrified, writer and director Demian Rugna pushes the boundaries of traditional horror tropes to create an unsettling and at times, gory experience.
I really enjoyed the performances in this movie, in particular by Ezequiel Rodriguez and Damen Salomon who truly bring their characters to life on screen.
Rodriguez's portrayal of Pedro and Salomon's portrayal of Jimi are filled with emotional depth and authenticity, as they try and get to grips with the supernatural events unfolding around them.
From the children to the adults, each character in the film, including the ancillary ones, delivers a compelling performance, with the main characters, especially, navigating their roles with a sense of urgency and vulnerability, making their interactions and decisions feel grounded in the face of demonic forces.
The fear, sadness, and regret portrayed by these characters drive the narrative forward, making most of their decisions relatable and believable, and the characters' decisions are driven by fear.
While some decisions were a bit dumb, you have to ask yourself , what would you have done?
The practical effects used in the movie also help add a visceral and realistic element, and while digital effects are also present, the seamless blend of practical and digital moments creates a very cohesive viewing experienc,and combined with some effective camera work, elevates the visual impact of the film, and the attention to detail just adds to the overall atmosphere of fear and tension.
The brutality and violence serve the narrative, and create a sense of dread and unease that keeps you fully engaged in what is happening, and the storytelling in the movie is dark and bleak, filled with elements of violence and gore that create a truly intense experience.
The world-building in the film is never looking to spoon-feed you, but instead, you are encouraged to decipher the narrative based on character interactions, reactions, and the overall state of the world portrayed in the film.
The film is quite simplistic in its premise, as it adds the layers of psychological and emotional complexity through the lens of demonic possession, and the approach to possession and demonic is very grounded that keeps you questioning and guessing all the characters' motives.
These characters are influenced by the overwhelming sense of dread and paranoia that the demonic forces instill in them, and as viewers, we need to remember that fear can cloud judgment and lead to irrational behavior.
After watching When Evil Lurks, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique take on the possession genre that the film offered, and a film that surprised me a lot as when I watched it when it was first released on Shudder, I had little expectations as it wasn't as appreciated and well known as it is now in horror circles.
The brutal practical effects and brilliant acting kept me intrigued and interested throughout the movie, and while some may find the pacing slow in the beginning, I appreciated how it laid the groundwork for the escalating tension and suspense that followed, it was superbly done.
When Evil Lurks a great horror movie that doesn't hold back on the violence and gore, and a film that leaves you feeling miserable and disheartened as if you are actually with Pedro throughout the film fleeing and trying to survive the terror alongside him.
It is a must-watch, and was the best horror movie of 2023 for my money.