ODDITY
Starring: Carolyn Bracken, Gwilym Lee, Caroline Menton, Steve Wall, Jonathan French, and Tadhg Murphy
Director: Damian McCarthy
QUENTIN
Oddity is an excellent example of how a horror movie can rely on eerie atmosphere and a slow-burn approach without sacrificing narrative (take notes, The Witch and Starve Acre). This is a movie that captivates from the outset, mixing the tense moodiness of “elevated horror” with the genuine jump scare moments that so many Blumhouse movies try and fail to manufacture. Plus, although the story isn’t entirely unpredictable, the general mystery of it all still draws you in through Damian McCarthy’s direction and Carolyn Bracken’s unnerving performance. All in all, if not for Longlegs, this might be the best horror movie of the year.
NICK
Some horror films need excessive gore and brutality, while others employ a plethora of jump scares. With Oddity, it's pure atmosphere. Everything works in service of the eerie tone director Damian McCarthy delivers, leaving you chilled to the bone as the story unravels. A story, I may add, that is quite good. There are shades of other films, but this is an original idea. Toss in a lesser known cast who wholeheartedly understands their assignments, and you have a film that is bound to appeal to horror lovers who have found this year's output lacking.
PAIGE
Oddity is an eerie experience. The story's atmosphere, mood, and unsettling imagery are what make it most effective despite the plot's periodic murkiness and simplicity. Even when I felt this paranormal murder mystery was losing steam, it snuck back up and shook me. Director Damien McCarthy has a great sense of how to execute a jump scare, and he cautiously creates tension with just darkness and silence. Though the ending is a little underwhelming, this original flick is one to definitely catch when it hits Shudder.
This film was reviewed by Nick, Quentin, and Paige as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival.