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THE WRETCHED (2020)
The Wretched poster

CAST
JOHN-PAUL HOWARD
JUDAH ABNER PAUL
KEVIN BIGLEY
BLANE CROCKARELL
PIPER CURDA
RICHARD ELLIS
JAMISON JONES
ZARAH MAHLER
GABRIELA QUEZADA BLOOMGARDEN
AZIE TESFAI
JA’LAYAH WASHINGTON

WRITTEN BY
BRETT PIERCE
DREW T. PIERCE

PRODUCED BY
ED POLGARDY
CHANG TSENG

DIRECTED BY
BRETT PIERCE
DREW T. PIERCE

GENRE
HORROR
THRILLER

RATED
AUS:MA
UK:15
USA:NR

RUNNING TIME
95 MIN

 

 

 

 

The Wretched image

A memorable monster and willing penchant to push boundaries separates The Wretched from other films of its ilk, however an insistence of tired and true horror tropes dilutes the films overall impact.

It is hard to think of a recent horror movie that was as shocking yet as routine as The Wretched. On one hand The Wretched has a truly evil monster whose appetite for children (the younger, the better) results in some truly horrific moments. On the other hand, the film relies on many familiar tropes, especially that of horny teenagers investigating matters horrific and paranormal.

Written and directed by brothers Brett and Drew T. Pierce (Deadheads), The Wretched stars John-Paul Howard as Ben, a teenager who is sent to live with his father after an incident with prescription drugs. The ever-curious Ben suspects something is afoul with his fathers neighbours, especially when they begin to exhibit behaviour that is disturbing. Soon this snoopy teen discovers that an ancient evil witch, who has the supernatural ability to possess people, is attacking and consuming the towns children.

Such a macabre child-eating monster brings macabre imagery, and The Wretched does not shy from this fact. Many filmmakers have become more comfortable in portraying violence against children, and the Pierce Brothers jump on that band wagon with horrific visuals and scenarios that will make horror novices queasy. However, those attuned to this kind of horror filmmaking will appreciate the Pierce Brothers’ decision to “go there” in order to present their villain as an uncompromising force to be feared.

Indeed, the witch in The Wretched is as creepy as they come, literally jumping in the skin of anyone, anywhere, and establishing trust before consuming children with unbiased savagery. To reiterate, some of these moments can be hard to watch, such the age of the victims. While the villain is a highlight, the films heroes are a generic troop of teen horror tropes. True, the casting of John-Paul Howard as the films lead goes against the usual “final girl” rules of horror convention, yet the motivations – sex, booze/drugs, morbid curiosity – are the same.

When the witch is not scaring up the screen, The Wretched lags under the same old horror clichés. But when she does appear, The Wretched will make you jump out of your skin.

 

***

 

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