Does a horror film have to make you jump in order to be considered “scary”? So often when we think about the genre, we think about the movies that made our heart rates spike. The ones that had us pulling the blankets over our eyes in anticipation of the next big scare. When Evil Lurks probably won’t make you jump, but this nasty little possession flick will leave a lasting, stomach churning impression that rivals any good jump scare.
What sets this one apart from countless other possession movies, is its attention to detail with world building and lore. So often in these types of films, the narrative gets hung up on characters struggling to believe what’s happening, or trying to convince others. In the world of When Evil Lurks, possession is very real and widely known. There are established rules and protocols for dealing with a “possessed one”, allowing us to move past the tired genre clichés we’re used to.
This is not a movie for those with a weak stomach, as it doesn’t hold back on brutal violence and disgusting imagery. The practical gore is grotesque, with several moments that’ll be burned into my brain for a long time to come. It serves a far greater purpose than shock value, though. The sudden bursts of violence and graphic gore amplify the fear these characters are feeling, knowing this entity could be anywhere, possessing anybody in the blink of an eye. It’s a terrifying sort of helplessness that’s rarely seen in modern horror.
When Evil Lurks leaps over possession horror tropes and cheap scares to create an entirely different kind of fear. It’s one of the nastiest, most relentless horror films I’ve seen in a long time, and apart from a few distracting budgetary limitations, this is a shining example of the genre done right.
4/5