Following 2020’s Caveat, Irish Director and Writer Damian McCarthy returns with his sophomore feature Oddity. Building on themes explored in his first film, Oddity is yet another supernatural tale that explores retribution, revenge and karma, all while exuding creepiness throughout.
Set for release in theaters through IFC Films on July 19, 2024, Oddity begins with an absolutely terrifying scenario. Dani (Carolyn Bracken: You Are Not My Mother 2021, The Quiet Girl 2022) is home alone at her new house deep in the countryside, whilst husband Ted (Gwilym Lee: The Tourist 2010, Bohemian Rhapsody 2018) works the night shift as a doctor at a psychiatric hospital. She is getting ready to settle down for the night when she hears a knock at the door. Dani opens a hatch on the door to reveal a mysterious man with a missing eye. He insists that she let him in. She tells him that she cannot do that. He insists that she absolutely must because he saw someone else go into the house, they are inside with Dani now and they will hurt her if she does not let him in. It is clear that Dani does not believe him and then suddenly there is a noise from inside the house. What should Dani do? What should she believe? The audience is left on tenterhooks as the film flashes forward. We do not know what Dani did… but we do know that she is now dead.
In the present Ted now lives in the house with his new girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton). Dani seems all but forgotten by everyone except her blind twin sister Darcy (also played by Bracken in a dual role). A self-proclaimed medium and owner of a curious oddities shop, Darcy believes that there was more to Dani’s death than meets the eye. Determined to get to the bottom of her sister’s death, Darcy turns up unannounced to Ted and Yana’s house one night along with a large wooden mannequin.
Oddity sets up a number of uneasy and creepy elements that each pay off one by one. There is the isolated and possibly haunted house, the unsettling psychiatric hospital and the mystery of Dani’s death. And throughout it all, proceedings are watched over by an incredibly effective, well made and terrifying looking wooden mannequin. The audience is never quite sure which element will deliver the scare and this makes Oddity a thoroughly engaging watch throughout.
Oddity is also rich thematically with themes of the supernatural and the occult set against themes of the evil of humanity. There is an interesting juxtaposition between these two things and a fascinating argument for which one is truly the most heinous and frightening. The cast are also really good; especially Bracken who has two very different roles to play. Overall, this is a great sophomore effort from Damian McCarthy, and it will be really exciting to see what he does with his next feature film. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Oddity 4 out of 5 stars.
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