Something wicked this way comes to a small lakeside resort town in brothers Brett & Drew Pierce’s skillful, genuinely creepy, chiller.
Troubled teen Ben (John-Paul Howard) has been sent to live with his dad (Jamison Jones) and work the summer docks at a tourist-friendly marina. Ben has one arm in a cast and immediately clashes with entitled rich bullies, but he finds an ally with Mallory (Piper Curda) a cool, sardonic co-worker. What upsets him is the fact his dad, who has split from his mother, has a new girlfriend (Azie Tesfai). What also disturbs him are the weird goings-on with the family next door.
What Ben doesn’t realize is that a monstrous, toothy, forest she-demon has escaped its exile (living in a fathomless cave beneath a tree) and has possessed the mother next door (Zarah Mahler) and is set on consuming the young children and husband of the house. In typical Fright Night/Disturbia teen-paranoia fashion, no one believes Ben except his pretty co-worker and it’s up to them to defeat this mythological monster.
The Pierce Brothers steer an engaging, terrific cast through this fast-moving terror tale with great visual style, thanks to cinematographer Conor Murphy, and moments of really unnerving horror.
The Wretched is available on Demand May 1