As a Spanish-language film, Argentine horror "When Evil Lurks" made a significant impact after its wide release in North America, where audiences generally dislike reading subtitles. Achieving a momentary 99% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film stands as a testament to its impact and cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
Director Damián Rugna, known for his earlier film "Terrified," skillfully toyed with various horror techniques, earning recognition and a dedicated following among horror enthusiasts. However, six years later, rather than resting on his laurels, Rugna ventured into uncharted territory with "When Evil Lurks," unveiling an innovative and transformative approach to filmmaking within the genre.
In the realm of horror movies, audiences often crave that exhilarating sense of thrill and suspense. Nevertheless, the methods and psychological tricks employed to induce fear can significantly vary from one film to another.
Some create an atmosphere of suspicion, using unknown forces to generate anxiety. This approach is exemplified by mostly supernatural and superstitious films, as well as some slasher films. Others mimic real-life environments, evoking viewers' personal experiences. Many religious and folklore films, as well as dark night slasher films, fall into this category. In the realm of horror films, certain movies rely on jump scares to quicken heartbeats and induce fear, much like in 'The Conjuring' and 'It' series. Meanwhile, others opt for a first-person perspective resembling a pseudo-documentary style, aiming to immerse audiences into the experience, as seen in the 'V/H/S' series.
If "Terrified" was a versatile blend of traditional horror elements, 'When Evil Lurks' derives its fear factor from unique and unconventional sources. Malevolent spirits infiltrate a village, spreading their presence far and wide, while an unsuspecting family becomes inadvertently entangled in the ensuing chaos. They are forced to both escape and confront the sinister forces at the same time in a bid to halt the spreading terror.
After viewing this film, many audience members experienced an immediate and overwhelming sense of anxiety. Specifically, it portrays a sense of impending doom, like being unable to escape the demon that clings to one's body, getting constant frustrating interference, seeing the characters, especially the protagonist, constantly make mistakes and blunders, adding to the feeling of helplessness and exhaustion, leaving viewers unsure of what to do next. Negative emotions permeate the space, making one feel mentally and physically drained and powerless.
The entire film employs a wide array of elements aimed at provoking anxiety, spanning from its intricate plot and compelling characters to its stylistic techniques. This comprehensive approach ensures that viewers remain consistently on edge throughout the entirety of the movie.
The protagonist is depicted as a hot-tempered middle-aged man who, due to a series of unfortunate events, finds himself embroiled in trouble while trying to protect his family from the evil spirits. He exudes a domineering, patriarchal aura, always wanting to be in control and have the final say. However, he has poor emotional control, is terrible at communication, and is rather rough around the edges. His lack of knowledge and incomplete information forces him to rely on others, leaving him feeling constantly frustrated. Additionally, the evil spirits excel at deception and manipulation, often leaving him in a state of confusion and chaos, regardless of the situation.
His ex-wife is equally neurotic, and the two of them engage in heated arguments, hurling insults at each other without realizing their daughter is attacked by a dog. The protagonist's younger brother has a slightly better temper, but his lack of wit is evident. It's a case of family issue as they take turns making foolish mistakes, leaving viewers anxious and eager to intervene and solve the main issue on their behalf.
As the malevolent spirits spread uncontrollably, a group of adults persist in uttering foolish words and making reckless moves. It's no surprise that such behaviour contributes to the rising sense of anxiety among the audience.
And the entire film is different from the usual evil spirit ones. From the beginning, it is as if evil forces envelop everything, creating a sense of impending global disaster reminiscent of "A Quiet Place".
In this film, evil spirits are not obscure or confined to closed spaces; they are a commonly known presence in the entire world. When the male protagonist warns others to run away, his ex-wife responds with "Don't scare me" instead of "Don't bluff me." Even his mother emphasizes that this is a remote village, far removed from the city, where the presence of malevolent spirits causing such havoc should be an unexpected and unlikely occurrence.
Everyone in the village has heard of them, but their understandings vary from one another. Some are unaware of the consequences of killing the corrupted, while others underestimate the severity of the situation. Evil spirits can even manipulate children, turning them into accomplices who confuse and harm adults. Scenes depicting children pretending innocence while engaging in deceitful acts and committing violence against adults evoke a sinister contrast, reminiscent of the unsettling tone found in "Who Can Kill a Child?"
The film accentuates the profound influence and extensive reach of the malevolent spirits, portraying their deep infiltration and the overwhelming oppressive force they wield. It's possible to interpret these evil spirits as metaphors for real-life forces. In essence, there's no escaping their grasp, regardless of one's location. A minor misstep can draw one into their realm, and once entangled, the only recourse is to confront an overwhelming tide of misfortune with sheer resilience and determination.
The film also skillfully uses audio-visual techniques to create a sense of anxious tension, following the principle of "if annoyance doesn't kill you, then it will annoy you to death."
The scene descends into chaos and loses control where the divorced couple argues, the large dog behaves strangely, the little girl innocently touches it, the woman's voice becomes hoarse, the man shouts angrily, the homeowner threatens to call the police, and the little boy panics. The camera uneasily wanders inside the room, and the noise mixed with sound effects feels like a saw repeatedly tearing at one's heart. Finally, an extremely horrifying scene erupts when this restless tension reaches its peak.
During their escape, the eldest son, who has autism, continuously makes strange noises and the youngest son keeps saying silly things. The mother talks extensively about the rules of dealing with evil spirits and chants demon names. The evil spirits even use the voice of the protagonist's ex-wife to make harassing phone calls. The relentless assault on the protagonist's psychological defenses gradually wears him down, culminating in his ultimate breakdown and tearful unravelling.
There are also some absurd moments, such as wanting to buy ice cream to appease the eldest son but realizing that no one in the car has enough money, they even consider whether to go back to the dangerous town to get money. Later, when the protagonist finally finds the corrupted, it is evident that he can't handle it alone, yet he still tries to drag out several hundred pounds of undead, leading to the demise of his team.
In a less serious film, these moments would provide perfect opportunities for dark humor. However, this film has no intention of creating humorous or satirical elements. The predicament is simply a predicament, a desperate situation that causes anxiety, headaches, and profuse sweating.
The film also includes a lot of explanatory dialogue spoken by experts in dealing with evil spirits, offering extensive information. In many horror films, the information provided would typically encompass the entire backstory of malevolent entities. However, in this case, not only is the world not entirely elucidated, but the more one learns about it, the less comprehension one gains about the nature of the evil spirits.
Apart from the transmission methods, characteristics, and some means and taboos to deal with them, "When Evil Lurks" leaves countless questions unanswered. By the time the evil spirit reveals its true form and departs, it feels like an open ending, requiring the audience to interpret and imagine.
This feeling of powerlessness, where the harder one tries, the less one can see the full picture, psychologically traps people in a purgatory like Stephen King's "The Mist", where they can only be on edge, watching as a pair of claws or tentacles reach out from the mist and take people away.
Ultimately, the protagonist not only failed to rescue their beloved ones but also experienced a devastating failure that surpassed the worst expectations. The film concludes with a scene depicting the protagonist kneeling in anguish, crying out in despair. At this climactic moment, frustration and helplessness reach their pinnacle. The task, for which they endured countless hardships and paid an enormous price, was inherently doomed from the start, devoid of any hope for success.
While the director might not have specifically aimed for this interpretation, there's room for viewers to perceive the movie as a profound irony. Is there anything more terrifying and despairing than entrusting the safety of loved ones and the destiny of the world to an individual who is both unintelligent and obstinately determined?
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