Oddity makes the most of its jump scares

Theatrical Movie Review - Horror

Oddity official poster. Courtesy IFCFilms.

I sometimes think that horror fans hate nothing more than a jump scare. So many reviews of horror movies highlight the inclusion or exclusion of jump scares as the measure of the quality of the film. And there is something to that. Unfortunately, horror fans have been subjected to a number of movies that do nothing to build tension or dread and expect audiences to be scared because of a loud noise and an unexpected character popping out of the dark. 

Oddity from writer and director Damian McCarthy does have a fair few jump scares. But before you decide to skip this one, you need to know that this is also one of the scariest movies I’ve seen this year.

Caroline Menton in Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY. Courtesy of Colm Hogan. An IFC Films and Shudder Release

When Dani (Carolyn Bracken) and Ted Timmis (Gwilym Lee) move into their home, it seems like everything is perfect. That is, until a terrifying man, Olin Boole (Tadhg Murphy), shows up late one night when Dani is alone. A few months later, Dani’s twin sister Darcy (also played by Carolyn Bracken in an excellent dual performance) is still trying to get to the bottom of her sister’s death. She goes to Ted’s home, which he now shares with his new girlfriend, Yana (Caroline Melton). Darcy brings with her a large wooden figure that she uses to communicate with her dead sister and get to the bottom of her death. 

This movie has atmosphere for days. It builds dread in every frame, and while there are a number of jump scares, they work more as a function of the mounting tension than of a sudden change in the score and a surprise movement in the corner of the screen. Not every one of them is earned, but the overwhelming majority are.

Carolyn Bracken in Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY. Courtesy of Colm Hogan. An IFC Films and Shudder Release.

Lee does a great job as the surviving spouse. He balances moving on with mourning brilliantly, especially in the face of an antagonistic sister-in-law. Murphy is only on screen for a few moments, but he ekes so much terror out of that brief time that you will swear he was in the movie longer. However, the star is unquestionably Bracken. Not only does she play two characters, but she plays them in such a way that I wasn’t certain she had performed both roles. Far more of her time is playing Darcy, and she fully sinks into that role beautifully. 

The story is imperfect, particularly near the end. It blends supernatural horror with a crime thriller (not unlike Longlegs, released last week), and some of those crime elements feel a bit contrived. But the supernatural elements are played perfectly. They exist right in the sweet spot that allows them to add a sense of mystery and uncertainty rather than neatly wrap up problems created in the story. The design of the wooden man and the way Bracken reacts around it is far more terrifying than any of the occultic ways that it is used.

Tadhg Murphy in Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY. Courtesy of Colm Hogan. An IFC Films and Shudder Release.

What anyone finds scary is always going to be incredibly subjective. Sometimes, it’s just how you’re feeling on a given day. But some elements have a larger chance of being seen as frightening, and Oddity includes a number of them. And even if, for some reason, you don’t find it scary, those jump scares are still pretty good.

Oddity comes to select theaters on July 19.

@alisechaffinsMovie review for ODDITY, in theaters this weekend! #horror #horrortok #oddity #foryou #moviereview #filmtok

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