Though its buildup is more memorable than its payoff, indie horror Oddity brings a unique story to the genre and a mannequin that will haunt your nightmares.
Director: Damian Mc Carthy
Genre: Horror, Supernatural
Run Time: 98′
US Release: July 19, 2024 in theaters
UK Release: Edinburgh Film Festival in August; release TBA
In the opening scene of Oddity, the camera slowly pans over a remote, grey landscape. Though there’s plenty of vegetation present, the area feels uninviting, cold, and lifeless. Within mere seconds, an eerie atmosphere engulfs the audience. There’s something incredibly chilling and unsettling about this environment. You want to escape from it immediately.
We are then introduced to Dani (Carolyn Bracken, of The Quiet Girl), who has driven to the isolated property she owns with her husband Ted (Gwilym Lee, of Bohemian Rhapsody) to make some much-needed renovations. Though their country house is in an area that many would call a desirable, peaceful location away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the inside of the property is dreary and gloomy. The floorboards and stairs creak, and the long corridors are claustrophobic. There’s also spotty cell service in the area, which adds to the dread of Dani being cut off from the outside world.
Once the dark of night creeps in, Dani goes outside to fetch something from the car, leaving the house door wide open. When she returns inside, an unexpected visitor knocks on the door. He claims that while she left the property, someone snuck inside the house. However, the man delivering this news has a frightening appearance, and Dani isn’t sure whether to trust him or not.
The next few minutes are exceedingly suspenseful as viewers experience the uncertainty our protagonist is facing when it comes to trusting the stranger on the other side of the door. Is he just a manipulative creep or a concerned citizen desperately trying to protect a woman from a situation gone wrong? It’s one of the best scenes in the feature, and you could cut the tension between Dani and the mysterious individual outside the residence with a knife.
Thereafter, we learn of Dani’s passing, though viewers are left uninformed as to how she was killed or who the culprit is. It’s a spine-tingling introduction brimming with uncertainty and effectively introduces mystery into the narrative while setting the tone of the film.
Later, we meet Dani’s blind twin sister, Darcy (who is also played by Bracken). She owns a shop full of cursed items and has kept in touch with Dani’s widow, Ted. When he comes to visit her, the news of his new girlfriend, Yana (Caroline Menton), catches Darcy off-guard. After all, moving on so quickly from Dani feels sudden. As time goes on, Darcy starts to unveil details from the past, which leads her to the truth of what happened to her sister that fateful day and many unexpected surprises.
What makes Oddity unique is Damian McCarthy’s ability to blend various sub-genres without the narrative becoming muddled. The film incorporates supernatural, psychological horror, a whodunit, and a haunted house setting, with each element playing an important role in the story and interconnecting seamlessly. Numerous themes are also explored (deceit, sibling intuition, strong family bonds, the desire for justice, and revenge), though, despite many moving parts, the focus remains tightly controlled.
Oddity also excels with its visuals, setting, and atmosphere. Each of these elements complements one another and heightens the film’s disturbing impact. When a character finds themselves in the spooky house setting, you never know what might be lingering through a doorway or around a corner, and the discomfort is stifling. The decision to use an old, creepy residence situated in a remote setting also adds to the terror. Though the home is surrounded by a vast amount of countryside that would be alluring to many, the space evokes a sense of isolation and fear of the unknown.
The cast all deliver decent performances, but Bracken is the film’s standout, particularly when portraying Darcy. Though the actress plays both sisters, Dani and Darcy feel like two completely different people, and the physicality and mannerisms she reflects through Darcy to depict an individual who cannot see is extremely impressive. Despite being blind, which is often used in horror to showcase such characters in a more vulnerable position as they might not be as quick to notice potential threats, when in the company of others, Darcy has the most sinister, powerful presence in the room. When Ted is introduced into the narrative, his pompous nature shines through and is wildly off-putting. Similarly, his girlfriend Yana reflects an impudent, ignorant persona. Together, they make an extremely unlikable couple, which showcases how well Lee and Menton play their respective roles.
But without a doubt, the most impressive part of Oddity is the terrifying mannequin that appears in the film. The look of this prop is unlike anything I have ever seen in a horror film before and is incredibly distinctive and unforgettable. I do wish it was utilized much more in the feature, as it exudes sheer terror, but it is used more as a plot device than having a significant focus throughout the narrative. That said, the scenes it appears in are the most memorable due to how extremely unsettling the figure is. It will make your skin crawl, yet somehow, you still can’t take your eyes off of it.
Once Oddity’s third act arrives and all the unanswered questions gain answers, I’ll admit that I did find the buildup much more satisfying than the payoff. Ultimately, the end reveal feels a bit gimmicky, and didn’t quite work for me. However, in a year full of generic horror films oozing with tropes, predictable narratives, and unoriginal ideas, Oddity still manages to bring its own unique story to the horror genre and a visually disturbing, noteworthy mannequin that will haunt your nightmares.
Oddity will be released in US theaters on July 19, 2024. In the UK, the film will be screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival in August.
