When Evil Lurks

I was apprehensive that this would be just another run-of-the-mill horror flick, rehashing tired tropes. Boy, was I wrong. This film had a fresh take; the creators didn't recycle anything I'd seen five times before but instead crafted an original story featuring Uriel, who could very well become a new sex symbol in our modern, highly tolerant world, along with a pair of well-meaning losers. I appreciated the polished atmosphere, which kept me on edge throughout, as well as the stellar cast (I genuinely liked all of them). Additionally, I liked how the creators were restrained with violence (reserving it for occasional, brief outbursts), but when it did occur, it was brutal. I have to admit, I had a blast. / Lesson learned: Don't attempt to digest indigestible materials. 4*+ (01/20/2024)

When Evil Lurks is the most original and most well-rendered manifestation of the devil on earth in many years. Though we follow only a handful of characters fleeing the devil in the vicinity of a small town, the film is of almost apocalyptic proportions; the plot is packed with twists and changing locations; a desperate feeling of constant danger from an unpredictably hidden evil; superbly executed gore scenes that Hollywood wouldn’t dare to shoot; solid directing like that seen in a high-quality family survival drama. Not everything in the film makes sense, but its urgent sense of drive in combination with the believability of the supernatural threat is excellent. (01/19/2024)

After so many positive first reactions, When Evil Lurks is a solid disappointment for me. The premise of demonic possession spreading like an epidemic is great, but as is unfortunately the case, the translation of a promising premise to the screen and especially the ways they chose to go with it went more and more off the rails as the minutes ticked by. Characters make bizarre decisions influenced by motives we don't understand, they disappear from the plot and reappear as the script sees fit, and the whole thing is so oddly constructed that after the climax of the entire film, I was convinced that there had to be at least one more act to follow to pull it out of its lackluster sub-par state and add some proper resolution. It didn't. (10/10/2023)

There is something rotten in the Argentine state... Demián Rugna aims to offer horror fans more entertainment than reflection, but the depiction of bureaucracy, laziness, and the government’s—or rather society’s—indifference toward peasants working and then dying in pesticide-laden fields is certainly present. There’s no grand house, no exorcist treating possession, and faith as medicine—here, people know what’s going on and are on their own. When mom and the “cleaner” start explaining the rules, the tension eases a bit, but the film demands attention with its uniqueness, setting, and intense moments, especially when the cello roars as if Sicario were nearby. The creators don’t spare the children, but apparently, dealing with regulations during filming was much harder than convincing parents to loan their kids. And we're back to that bureaucracy... (11/01/2023)

When Evil Lurks offers a refreshingly unique take on demonic possession, portraying it as an inescapable plague — especially if you don't follow the seven rules to combat the lurking evil. This horror film is a relentless ride full of despair and hopelessness, where horrific things happen to everyone, including children. The main characters make choices that seal their grim fates, adding to the film's tension. The movie is filled with terrifying scenes, occasionally spiced with disturbingly gruesome moments that linger in your mind. The opening scene, featuring the transportation of a decaying, morbidly obese Uriel, is particularly repulsive and visceral. Demián Rugna first caught my attention with his earlier work, Aterrados, and he has now solidified his place as a distinctive horror filmmaker to watch. I hope he continues on this uncompromising horror path. (10/12/2023)