There are horror movies that will make you jump out of fright, and then immediately start laughing. Then, some make you sit and stew in the atmosphere of dread. However, there are some horror films that create an image that you just know you’ll never erase from your memories. It’s burned into your cornea, and when you blink, you’re sure you still see it. When Evil Lurks has three of those moments – but two that are especially traumatic.
Pedro (Ezequiel Rodríguez) and his brother, Jaime (Demián Salomón), discover a demon-infected man -called a “rotten” -on the cusp of giving birth to evil itself. They coordinate with another neighbor and decide that it is best to move the evil away from them. Unfortunately, the only thing they succeed in doing is spreading evil and chaos.
Writer and director Demián Rugna (Terrified) definitely has a strong understanding of the genre. The world-building of When Evil Lurks reflects this, as it is crafted in such a compelling way. The movie starts with the two brothers hearing gunshots, and vowing to discover their source in the morning. They then discover a man they refer to as a “cleaner”, and Jaime notes he’s “seen this odd device before”. When they find Uriel – the possessed man – they refer to him as a “rotten”, and the implication is that this is a known (or at least rumored) phenomenon. The way this plays out in the film pays off in major ways. There is a great standout moment where the brothers’ mother explains to her grandchildren the ways to avoid conflict with the demons.
While the story is well written and structured, so too are the visuals and effects in this movie. Uriel’s makeup is absolutely disgusting, yet impressive to behold. Then, there were several moments that made me shout in horror, as what I witnessed on screen felt all too real. There are those moments in horror films when you anticipate what will happen – and the movie still manages to shock you, even when it delivers upon exactly what you thought it would. When you watch as many movies as critics often do, finding a film that scares you feels less frequent. Thus, when one finally does, it’s all the more troubling.
When Evil Lurks is a film that will certainly stay with you. Your enjoyment of the plot and storytelling will vary, but I feel that we will all share in the trauma of watching it. There are moments that will make even the most seasoned horror fans still feel rocked to their core. This isn’t a film that is easy to recommend, even though it is well made. I’d hate to be the one to spread the rot.
When Evil Lurks is in theaters now and will be on Shudder October 27.
Rating: Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy
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