When Evil Lurks

Für viele Jahre das originellste und gelungenste Erscheinen des Teufels auf der Erde. Es hat fast apokalyptische Ausmaße, obwohl wir nur wenige Figuren in der Umgebung einer kleinen Stadt beobachten, die vor ihm fliehen. Die Handlung ist voller Wendungen und Ortswechsel; ein verzweifeltes Gefühl ständiger Gefahr durch unberechenbares, verborgenes Böses; ausgefeilte Gore-Szenen, wie sie Hollywood nicht wagen würde; eine solide Regie wie in einem hochwertigen Survival-Familiendrama. Nicht alles im Film ergibt Sinn, aber der dringende Drive in Kombination mit der Glaubwürdigkeit der übernatürlichen Bedrohung ist beeindruckend. (20.01.2024)

Nach so vielen lobenden ersten Reaktionen ist When Evil Lurks für mich eine solide Enttäuschung. Das Konzept einer dämonischen Besessenheit, die sich wie eine Epidemie verbreitet, ist super, aber wie es leider oft ist, drifteten die Wege, auf denen die Schöpfer beschlossen haben, damit umzugehen, mit jeder verstrichenen Minute mehr und mehr von mir ab. Die Charaktere treffen seltsame, von uns unverstandene Entscheidungen, dazu verschwinden sie aus der Handlung und tauchen wieder auf, wie es dem Drehbuch passt, und das Ganze ist so merkwürdig konstruiert, dass ich nach dem absoluten Höhepunkt des Films fest davon überzeugt war, dass noch mindestens ein weiterer Akt folgen müsse, um ihn aus der mäßigen Mittelmäßigkeit herauszuziehen und eine Art Gesamtlösung zu liefern. Dem war nicht so. (10.10.2023)

There is something rotten in the Argentine state... Demián Rugna aims to offer horror fans more entertainment than reflection, but the depiction of bureaucracy, laziness, and the government’s—or rather society’s—indifference toward peasants working and then dying in pesticide-laden fields is certainly present. There’s no grand house, no exorcist treating possession, and faith as medicine—here, people know what’s going on and are on their own. When mom and the “cleaner” start explaining the rules, the tension eases a bit, but the film demands attention with its uniqueness, setting, and intense moments, especially when the cello roars as if Sicario were nearby. The creators don’t spare the children, but apparently, dealing with regulations during filming was much harder than convincing parents to loan their kids. And we're back to that bureaucracy... (01.11.2023)

When Evil Lurks offers a refreshingly unique take on demonic possession, portraying it as an inescapable plague — especially if you don't follow the seven rules to combat the lurking evil. This horror film is a relentless ride full of despair and hopelessness, where horrific things happen to everyone, including children. The main characters make choices that seal their grim fates, adding to the film's tension. The movie is filled with terrifying scenes, occasionally spiced with disturbingly gruesome moments that linger in your mind. The opening scene, featuring the transportation of a decaying, morbidly obese Uriel, is particularly repulsive and visceral. Demián Rugna first caught my attention with his earlier work, Aterrados, and he has now solidified his place as a distinctive horror filmmaker to watch. I hope he continues on this uncompromising horror path. (12.10.2023)

I went for a full meal and got a full meal. INSANE!! Demian Rugna has already managed to shine once with the awesome creepy Terrified, and this film clearly makes him a strong player in the horror field with unprecedented talent (Flanagan could learn). This is some really thick horror fodder, properly off the rails that was right down my alley. But it's a very evil film, unpleasant, dark, it crosses genre boundaries, the director knows how to shock and there's some very nasty things happening to everyone, including children and animals, so weaker characters watch out! This is rural demonic horror from Argentina set in a village where two brothers find an infected man (possessed by a demon). The demon possession spreads like a plague and the man rots alive! I have to say that the premise is not only original but also quite realistic, if there ever was a demonic possession I believe it could have manifested itself in these symptoms. I really liked that the movie gives seven rules to avoid the evil. From the very beginning, the director throws an uncompromising atmosphere, from which you can feel the hopelessness, despair, helplessness against an unknown evil. It has a very fierce pace, which I appreciate, excellent music that perfectly complements the tension and the atmosphere. The characters are well acted, the direction is of course top notch, and now we come to the most important thing: the horror scenes themselves. They are so good that every single one would be a highlight in another film. On the one hand there are scenes that I have never seen in my life, but then they shock in such a way that they are hard to breathe (the dog scene is really something crazy!). The obese Uriel, rotten to the bone will probably haunt my dreams, and eating the brains out of his child like popcorn is also a pretty good freakout and it definitely doesn't stop there. For me, an absolute horror beauty that scores on all fronts. It has an original theme, great gore, great make-up effects, good pacing, great visuals, it’s shocking, it's uncomfortable, it has a sultry atmosphere, it breaks down cinematic boundaries. I don't know what more to ask for, this is what a Horror movie with a all the trimmings should look like. In short, the demons have taken over the horror fair this year. Oh and by he way, complaining about characters behaving illogically when the town is being eaten by plague, rot and demons is really logical. It's like some introvert accidentally strayed from drama to horror. My only regret is that the film wasn’t half an hour longer. 9/10. (27.10.2023)