7/31/20 - The Wretched (2020) - 5-/10

New kid in town teenage Rear Window meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers with dark magics, which isn’t the worst beginning to a film but it doesn’t fly far above the witchy tree line. Honestly, what it reminded me of, and I don’t know which came first or if they are based on the same lore, but the comic book Wytches by Scott Snyder and Jock is near identical in its base. It is also much better. Putting that aside, it goes for the creature scares more than the psychological torture, which is much easier but less effective. Okay enough, but it feels a tad disconnected and overstuffed, characteristics that it most certainly did not need.

I find it odd that the opening, which does set up a brand of what we are in for later on, doesn’t feel of the time nor does it relate to the rest of the film. There is a retro vibe, with the ambiance and music that never comes back into the film. Then we get the Sunset Boulevard meets Fight Club intro to our protagonist that then jumps back in time. From there on it is mixing teen drama and “lone monster opponent”. It has promise with the memory issues or a deeper ongoing battle against these witch creatures, but they are either never really capitalized upon or even paid mind. Just felt like missed opportunities and disjointed pieces.

It does play with a creepiness and interesting lore, despite it lacking the chills and thrills one might be searching for. It is a decent thriller, but don’t expect to become ensorcelled by these wretched witches.