When Evil Lurks is now showing in theaters and premieres on Shudder October 27. This assessment is based on a screening at Fantastic Fest 2023.
A Disturbing Descent into Darkness: When Evil Lurks Review
There are movies that make you feel bad, and then there are movies like Demián Rugna’s When Evil Lurks that plunge you into an immoral Hell on Earth. This is the kind of nihilistic horror that settles in the pit of your stomach, clawing and thrashing like barbed wire balls. Rugna, who previously terrified audiences with his debut film “Terrified,” takes demonic possession and transforms it into a viral outbreak, showcasing his range as a horror director. When Evil Lurks is so malevolent that you’ll feel the need to purify your television with holy water once the credits roll.
The story begins when brothers Pedro (Ezequiel Rodríguez) and Jimmy (Demián Salomón) discover a demonic infestation in a neighboring farmhouse. There’s no slow build-up or accidental discoveries here. Rugna immediately thrusts us into the heart of the nightmares, introducing us to a repulsive, bloated figure oozing green liquids and covered in pulsating pustules. This “rotten” individual serves as the film’s patient zero. In a desperate attempt to protect Pedro’s children, including his autistic son Jaime (played brilliantly by Emilio Vodanovich), Pedro and Jimmy flee to the nearby city, but it’s already too late. Sympathy is a luxury no one can afford when evil lurks.
Rugna fearlessly pushes the boundaries of good taste with a devilish grin. No one and nothing is spared from his ferocious villain – not wise elderly grannies, innocent young sisters in pajamas, or drooling canines. This film is not for the weak-stomached, as it delivers gut-wrenching displays of ruthless violence, reminiscent of films like “The Sadness” that revel in creative inhumanity. Rugna’s evil entity operates like a slasher killer, hopping between hosts and using shock-and-awe tactics (shotgun blasts, high-speed vehicles, etc.) to eliminate Pedro and Jimmy’s loved ones.
What sets When Evil Lurks apart is its unapologetic simplicity. Rugna refuses to shy away from grotesque imagery and unrelenting violence. Each innocent character faces a fate more devastating than the impact of a speeding Mack Truck. Trickery abounds as demonic desires know no bounds, using Jaime’s neurodivergence as a cover, and manipulated children attempt to divert Pedro’s attention. The influence of “Evil Dead” is also evident, as the viral demon hides within human bodies, manipulating their actions and dialogue in a maniacal fashion.
Rugna’s masterful command over visual agony is a curse and a blessing. Mangled corpses, misshapen and broken from falls or self-inflicted wounds, become the norm. The rotten’s repulsive appearance, like a bloated water balloon filled with mucus and demonic bile, invokes a similar sense of dread as Kevin Durand’s Blob in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Rugna’s exceptional special effects team aims to startle audiences to their core, and they may very well succeed, depending on your tolerance for this kind of masochistic horror storytelling. When Evil Lurks is a possession tale drenched in gore, like playing Doom on the “Nightmare” difficulty setting, with the evil spreading like wildfire.
When Evil Lurks embraces the bad times and never lets go, delivering a despicably entertaining experience. Corrupted daughters revel in their wickedness while their mother lies motionless and wounded. Quaint suburban settings become breeding grounds for uninvited hatred that never allows us a moment to catch our breath. Rugna incorporates folklore and mythology into the demon-killing rules followed by Jimmy and Pedro, establishing an important dynamic where other characters’ hasty decisions often worsen the situation. The film maintains an abrupt and vicious unpredictability that keeps us on edge, all while showcasing the beautifully shot cinematography of Mariano Suárez.