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The Dark and the Wicked
2020 95 min United States of America 18+
★6.6
Horror
Director: Bryan Bertino
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
On a secluded farm in a nondescript rural town, a man is slowly dying. His family gathers to mourn, and soon a darkness grows, marked by waking nightmares and a growing sense that something evil is taking over the family.
US Gross:
$157,252
Worldwide:
$736,153
Starring
Marin Ireland
Actor
Michael Abbott Jr.
Actor
Julie Oliver-Touchstone
Actor
Awards
4 wins & 13 nominations total
Key opinion
The Dark and the Wicked is widely regarded as a technically accomplished and deeply unsettling work of atmospheric horror. While critics praise its masterful use of sound, lighting, and sustained dread, the film polarizes audiences regarding its narrative substance and lack of resolution.
| Cinematography | The film excels at creating an oppressive, sustained atmosphere of dread through masterful use of lighting, shadows, and silence. | |
| Score | The unconventional, chaotic sound design effectively enhances the sense of psychological terror and immersion. | |
| Acting | The lead performances, particularly by Marin Ireland, provide a strong emotional anchor for the audience amidst the mounting terror. | |
| Production | The sparse, bleak visual aesthetic effectively reinforces the themes of isolation and family decay. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed by many as thin; critics of the film argue that the narrative lacks development, clear motivations, or a satisfying explanation for the supernatural occurrences. | |
| Pacing | The slow, deliberate pacing provides a grueling experience that delights fans of festival-style horror but exhausts those seeking a more traditional, plot-driven narrative. | |
| Ending | The ambiguous, abrupt ending serves as a bold, nihilistic artistic choice for some, while others find it frustratingly devoid of purpose or catharsis. |