You may never sleep again after watching ‘Evil Things’
Evil Things, the new independent horror movie coming to DVD on Aug. 9, is not the most original film. Using the hand-held-camera format that was popularized by The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, the movie lovingly pulls from its predecessors.
However, unlike other cheap ripoffs, Evil Things proves to be unbelievably effective. I’m willing to forgive any wrongs that this little gem of a film commits. Evil Things is scary as hell, and it will likely keep you up at night and away from mysterious houses in the middle of the woods. Consider yourself warned.
The premise is pure horror genre: Five college friends decide to leave New York City behind and travel to the country for a weekend in the wintry woods. Miriam Dearing (Elyssa Mersdorf) is turning 21, and it’s time to party at her aunt’s cabin in the middle of nowhere.
Tagging along for the ride is Cassy (a very believable Laurel Casillo, who has the best role), Mark (Morgan Hooper), Tanya (Torrey Weiss) and Leo (Ryan Maslyn), the man holding the camera for most of the duration of the film.
We watch as Leo films just about everything, from picking up his friends in New York City to stopping at a diner to order a veggie burger. The whole time he films the action, the entire landscape is blanketed with snow, causing an instant eeriness to descend upon the trip. Much credit should be given to writer/director Dominic Perez for creating a ghostly feeling from the get-go.
Of course, if nothing went wrong for these five students, then there would be no movie. Without revealing too much, the horror enters the picture when a mysterious van starts to follow the group around the windy roads of the countryside. Its tinted windows don’t offer any clue of what the drive looks like, but they know he’s up to no good.
To continue with the plot would be too much of a spoiler. Evil Things needs to be experienced with as little pre-information as possible. One of the downfalls of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, both great films, was that the hype created ridiculously high expectations. Many walked away from the films with so-so feelings.
Maybe that’s why Evil Things will work wonderes and horrify more people than those two films combined. This little movie, which feels like it was made over a weekend with a few hundred dollars, simply creeps up on the viewer and offers a bleak, terrifying look at humanity gone awry.
I promise you it doesn’t turn into a needless bloodbath or gruesome affair. Evil Things is much more methodical and subtle. The scares are found in the reality of the situation on display. At no time did I believe that I was watching actual lost footage, but there is no denying that a palpable fear permeates this 87-minute film.
The acting is surprisingly not bad. There are a few corny lines, but most of the screams and conversations are realistic. These five young stars should be proud that they were able to weave such a believable, frightening tapestry of emotions.
Evil Things could have taken a wrong turn in so many directions. There was ample opportunity to screw up this little film. College students in the woods = sex, murder, blood, guts, zombies, vampires, werewolves, you name it.
But, instead, the fearsome thing on the other side of the door turns out to be much scarier and much more believable.
After watching this independent film, you may never sleep again. Or, at least, you’ll never sleep in a house in the middle of the woods at the height of winter again.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
