Forewarning: some of this film is brutal. Brutal.
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| Our Evil |
Synopsis
A man with spiritualist powers is told by his mentor that a demonic entity is returning to destroy his daughter's soul, and that he should take drastic measures to prevent this from happening.
Review
Okay, so this one not only took me by surprise, but it's also kinda hard to review. But first off, let me say it is fantastic. Part drama, part horror, a dash of torture porn, a little thriller... like I said, hard. You couldn't pigeon hole this film at all.
I won't talk at any length over the plot - the synopsis says enough - for not wanting to drop spoilers. The film has twists galore, and each one is kind of sweet, so I won't ruin anything. The debut feature of writer/director Samuel Galli, Brazilian film Our Evil (Original title: Mal Nosso) drips with tension. It's raw brutal aesthetic makes it hard to look away. And sometimes you want to.
What I'll refer to as the villain - Charles - played by Ricardo Casella (debut feature) is cool, calm, and very sinister. He looks so...ordinary. Lead of the piece is Arthur - played in two time periods to aplomb by Ademir Esteves (debut feature) and Fernando Cardoso (debut feature). Casella and Esteves spa on screen like seasoned professionals.
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| Ricardo Casella (with knife) |
The real win is the story telling. The film doesn't hold back on the underlying good vs evil arc within the narrative. It bounces back and forth unpredictably, until the last.
It would also be remiss of me not to mention the horror effects. I think credit should fall to Special Makeup and Effects Artist Rodrigo Aragão (Mud Zombies) for producing true Savini effects.
Not only is the film thought provoking, gripping, and gore quenching, it really does show what can be achieved on a low budget with determination, grit, and perseverance. A must watch.
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