"ODDITY" (2024) Is Proof Horror Is Still Original AF (REVIEW)

Originality, or lack thereof is something that some within and outside of the horror community see as a major problem. Rightfully so as we seem to exist in a timeline where sequels, reboots, franchises, and legacy characters are still being milked dry in an attempt to appease the masses with nostalgia-laden storylines. Originality is more subjective than people may think, and we often set high expectations for new ideas while not nurturing them enough to see them succeed. Hell, the current box office could be seen as an argument for AND against originality, but the reality is that a good movie is good even if it isn’t the most original. The two traits are not mutually exclusive. So when it comes to the horror genre, the bastions of originality are often found in the independent horror field, and one of those unique voices is Damain McCarthy whose debut feature, “Caveat” was one of our favorite films of 2020, a year rife with lots of strange times and events. His follow-up film, “Oddity” is coming to theaters on July 19, 2024, but does this second outing continue the trend of original horror IP, or does it feel more of the same?

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

When Dani is brutally murdered at the remote country house that she and her husband Ted are renovating, everyone suspects a patient from the local mental health institution, where Ted is a doctor. However, soon after the tragic killing, the suspect is found dead. A year later, Dani’s blind twin sister Darcy, a self-proclaimed psychic and collector of cursed items, pays an unexpected visit to Ted and his new girlfriend, Yana. Convinced that there was more to her sister's murder than people know, Darcy has brought with her the most dangerous items from her cursed collection to help her exact revenge.

HOW IS IT?

One of the things we aim to do as “critics” is avoid hyperbole and focus on objectivity, with the understanding that art is subjective and we bring our preferences and biases with us. This can be challenging when we come across filmmakers we love, or even ones on the rise who delivered a stellar debut feature like Damian McCarthy with Caveat in 2020. Unfortunately, McCarthy is making it extra hard to be objective when delivering such outstanding output as “Oddity”. In many ways, “Oddity” is an evolution of this haunted universe McCarthy is crafting. Still, it stands on its own even without the adjacency to “Caveat” while also demonstrating to everyone who says “horror isn’t original” that they’re flat-out wrong.

“Oddity” carries over the same disorienting and drab vibe of McCarthy’s last film, but swaps out a desolate island with an isolated mini-manor in the country. These are locations that are hard to get to and even harder to get out of, which creates an invisible boundary around it holding everything that comes into its influence hostage. The sense of desolation and isolation is compounded by a sense of dread that builds intentionally and surgically across the 98-minute runtime. To call it a “slow-burn” would insinuate that the lead-up is more drab than the payoff, but nothing could be further from the truth with “Oddity. Similar to the way an IV drips liquid into a patient, McCarthy slowly divulges just enough information to minimize abstraction while carefully letting the mystery unravel terrifyingly. It is hard to get under the skin of horror fans, but “Oddity” is sure to not only give you a few good jump scares but also give you a few images and cuts to stick with you long after you’ve left the theater.

The cast of “Oddity” is rather small, but the performances delivered are massive. Carolyn Bracken playing the dual roles of Dani and Darcy is an uncanny performance that had me questioning if it was the same actor or two separate ones throughout, and Bracekn brings such personality to each of them despite them being complete opposites. The same can be said of Gwilym Lee, who is diabolically believable in his portrayal of Ted who grapples with the memory of his wife’s violent passing and the intrusive twin sister who reappears in his life. The way all of these characters, and supporting ones like Steve Wall as Ivan operate just a few degrees south of normal elevates the atmosphere in the film that makes it feel like something is always off. As if the world that “Oddity” inhabits is a shade darker than our own, but still just as grounded. Maybe that’s just the Irish sensibilities, and to add a bit more nuance to an already impeccable film there are just the subtlest bits of humor sprinkled throughout that provide some much-needed tension relief. It is all so masterfully put together and fun that it is hard to find much fault in it at all and suffice it to say we cannot wait to see what Damian McCarthy will do next!

LAST RITES

“Oddity” is not just an appropriate title, but possibly the understatement of the year in the best way possible. Marrying inventive storytelling with mounds of dread and cracking performances, “Oddity” is without a doubt one of the best horror movies of 2024!

THE GORY DETAILS

Directed By

DAMIAN MC CARTHY

Written By

DAMIAN MC CARTHY

Starring

GWILYM LEE

CAROLYN BRACKEN

TADHG MURPHY

CAROLINE MENTON

STEVE WALL

JOHNNY FRENCH

TRAILER

Where can you watch it?

IFC Films will release Oddity in theaters on July 19, 2024!

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