Easily the most impressive new horror film I saw in October
was WHEN EVIL LURKS (2023) from Argentina. A decidedly different take on the
idea of possession it goes in directions both sledgehammer violent and subtly
nuanced while creating a different way of thinking about the concept from
nearly every angle.
Starting in rural Argentina we are slowly introduced to the evidence
of some possibly supernatural event involving the death of a visitor to the area.
The film’s slow build of information felt perfect as it puts us in the position
of an outsider looking in and having to put together the pieces before things
are presented in an unambiguous fashion. The characters refer to these
disturbing events as something that is not unknown but more common in
heavily populated areas. Adding to the mystery the film’s dialog points toward
the possible dystopian/apocalyptic nature of this situation and the story plays
out in a way that leaves that open. The terminology used to describe the
victims of these ‘possessions’ is very different from the standard but exactly
the kind of identifiers that people with limited means and education would use.
Referring to the victims as rotten or ‘the rotten’ both prolongs the question
of what is happening and is an excellent descriptor of the effect that this ‘demon
possession’ has on the individuals affected by it.
As the story moves from rural to urban we follow the rising
desperation of the main character as he attempts to make people believe him and
then his utter despair as he realizes that his task might be impossible. When
he begins to understand that it is his fears that have brought about the worst
imagined consequences the film moves into some of the darkest material I’ve
seen in a horror tale in years. The film leaves the ultimate answer about what
is happening a question with many possible answers but the dark nature of the
actions of the affected are undeniably awful. I found the setting of the third act
in an abandoned children's school to be incredibly effective and without a
doubt one of the most satisfyingly dark endings of a horror film I've seen in a
long time. There are depths to this film that many of us will be discussing for
years to come.
Needless to say, I recommend the film.
The List
IT LIVES INSIDE (2023) – 6 (interesting Hindu demon tale)
RUN RABBIT RUN (2023) – 7 (Australian psychological horror –
family ghosts resurface)
SOCIETY LAWYER (1939) – 7 (fast and sharp crime story with
Walter Pidgeon)
SHADOW OF DEATH (1969) – 7 (twisty Spanish murder tale)
SCREAM OF THE BLIND DEAD (2021) – 3 (dull 40 minutes of love
for the original film)
ANNABELLE (2014) – 7 (well made with one outstanding scare
that really got me)
SPECTERS (a.k.a. Spettri) (1987) – 5 (spooky events around
an archeological dig – barely hangs together)
YOU’RE NEXT (2011) – 8 (rewatch)
THE INFERNO (1979) -7 (remake of Jigoku (1960) – this is a
little too long but very good)
SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROCK (1987) – 3 (Toni Basil is the only
bright spot)
A HAUNTING IN VENICE (2023) – 8
LONDON BY NIGHT (1937) – 6 (interesting murder mystery with
one awful supporting performance)
THE ONES YOU DIDN’T BURN (2022) – 6 (low-key slow-burn tale
of modern witches)
THE INCUBUS (1982) – 7 (fascinating if clunky supernatural
horror – great cast)
KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS (1977) – 6 (rewatch)
FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) – 9 (rewatch in Blu)
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (1983) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)
WEREWOLF BY NIGHT (2022) – 8 (rewatch)
EXORCIST: BELIEVER (2023) – 7
FRIDAY THE 13TH VII – THE NEW BLOOD (1988) – 7
(rewatch on Blu)
V/H/S/85 (2023) – 7 (well done anthology entry)
MIDNIGHT MAN (2013) – 6 (interesting low budget Irish ghost
tale)
ANNABELLE: CREATION (2017) – 7 (effective, creepy evil doll
origin tale)
FRANKENSTEIN (1931) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)
INSECT (a.k.a. BLUE MONKEY) (1987) – 6 (a better than I
expected giant bug film)
PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)
LUANA, THE GIRL TARZAN (1968) – 6 (rewatch)
THE KINDRED (1987) – 7 (well done mad scientist/monster
film)
A FIELD IN ENGLAND (2013) – 7 (fascinating period horror)
THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN (1964) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) (it
falters in the last act but until then..)
THE FREAKMAKER (1974) – 7 (solid mad scientist crossed with
FREAKS story - great cast)
BROOKLYN 45 (2023) – 8 (excellent WWII ghost tale)
STOP ME BEFORE I KILL (1960) – 7 (well done Val Guest
directed thriller)
HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982) – 8 (rewatch on
Blu)
THE RAVEN (1935) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)
TERROR OUT OF THE SKY (1978) – 5 (killer bee TV movie –
sequel to The Savage Bees)
THE HAUNTED PALACE (1963) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)
WHEN EVIL LURKS (2023) – 9 (excellent demon possession tale
from Argentina)
THE HEARSE (1980) – 6 (rewatch)
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (2023) – 9
PHASE IV (1974) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)
ANNABELLE COMES HOME (2019) – 7 (becomes a suburban haunted
house story)
THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)
HALLOWEEN (1978) – 10 (rewatch on Blu)
THE MONSTER WALKS (1932) – 5 (clunky per-code old dark house
thriller)
HALLOWEEN II (1981) – 7 (rewatch of the TV version)
THE DEVIL’S WEDDING NIGHT (1973) – 7 (rewatch)
