Oddity – Film Review
by Fran Winston

Directed by: Damian Mc Carthy
Starring: Gwilym Lee, Carolyn Bracken, Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Jonathan French, Steve Wall

In cinemas on August 30

This Irish horror film comes to screens having already won the Audience Award in the Midnighter section of the at South by Southwest film festival.

Filmed in Cork, it stars Gwilym Lee (who played Bran May in Bohemian Rhapsody) as psychiatrist Ted Timmis who is seemingly still grieving the murder of his wife, Dani (Bracken), who had been murdered in their home supposedly by a patient of his. When he reconnects with Dani’s identical twin sister Darcy (also Bracken), who is a blind medium, it sets in motion a chain of events which reveals the truth behind Dani’s death.

Visiting the house, she utilises a wooden mannequin to get to the sinister truth behind her sister’s death as a year of lies terrifyingly unravels.

McCarthy has opted to utilise old-school trickery for the frights here rather than relying on CGI. There are jump scares galore and plenty of psychological terror.

Bracken is wonderful in both roles but especially as the tortured Darcy. Her performance definitely puts her up there with other legendary Scream Queens.

This is almost timeless in its look and feel. Ted wouldn’t be out of place in a 1930s noir, and Steve Wall’s sinister hospital orderly Ivan would fit right in with the Universal Creature features of that era. The only real nod that it is set in contemporary times is mobile phones and video cameras – both integral to the plot. This is a bit jarring at times as it seems to jump from almost otherworldliness to modern day.

At times it is, literally, very dark as McCarthy plays into people’s primal fears. So much so, you’re not always sure what is going on!

While it won’t convert those who aren’t fans of the genre it should satisfy those seeking some big screen chills. It is a decent horror that will have your heart in your mouth at times despite being a touch predictable.