The Dark and the Wicked is a 2020 horror film directed by Bryan Bertinos, and the cast includes Marin Ireland, Michael Abbott Jr., Xander Berkeley, Julie Oliver-Touchstone, Michael Zagst and Lynn Andrews
Louise (Marin Ireland) and Michael (Michael Abbott Jr.) are siblings who return to their family’s isolated farmhouse when their father becomes gravely ill, and their mother struggling to care for him.
But shortly after their arrival, she dies by suicide and as the siblings go through her belongings, including her journals, they uncover some troubling details about her final days.
Directed and written by Bryan Bertino, probably best known for his work on The Strangers, The Dark and the Wicked tells a story that digs deep into fear and grief, and from the very beginning, the film creates a sense that something is horribly wrong, even before anything overtly supernatural happens.
As Louise and Michael try to make sense of their mother’s death and their father’s condition, their mother’s journals reveal that she had come to believe an evil force was targeting her husband’s soul, and although skeptical at first, the siblings begin to experience signs that their mother may have been right.
The film takes its time building a sense of dread, with some unsettling moments piling up as the story progresses, as animals on the farm begin to die in gruesome ways, and a a priest shows up with cryptic warnings for them, and nothing feels safe, and even the siblings start to question each other.
The scares are not delivered through loud noises or sudden shocks, but through quiet, disturbing moments that stay with you as director Bryan Bertino uses the isolation of the farmhouse to great effect, making every creak, shadow, and sound seem like part of a growing nightmare. (It was actually filmed on his own family farm)
The performances from the cast are key to the film’s emotional impact though, and Marin Ireland gives a powerful performance as Louise, a woman overwhelmed by guilt, fear, and the growing realization that something unexplainable is happening.
Michael Abbott Jr. is equally convincing as her brother Michael, who feels torn between staying to protect his father and wanting to return to his own family, and Xander Berkeley, who plays the priest deserves praise too with his powerful dialogue.
The Dark and the Wicked never lets the audience or the characters feel comfortable, and the uncertainty about the nature of the evil force adds to the film’s power, making it feel like something truly otherworldly is at work, and the film’s use of shadow and light is brilliant, as the dimly lit farmhouse at night makes it all feel even creepier.
It's a film where we have a lot to think about too, as it has some clear messages, and the story raises questions about what we believe, and how our beliefs support those around us and ourselves in times of grief and the guilt we sometimes feel when we just do not know how to deal with something.
Overall, the film is an unsettling exploration of the unknown, and with its strong cast, brilliant atmosphere and direction, The Dark and the Wicked is an incredibly haunting horror film that stays with you and a film I really liked and recommend watching.
But only watch it if you don't mind slow burns, otherwise....
What are your thoughts on the film?