Review: When Evil Lurks

Directed by: Demián Rugna

Written by: Demián Rugna

Starring: Ezequiel Rodriguez, Demián Salomon, Luis Ziembrowski, Silvia Sabater, Marcelo Michinaux

Rating: [4/5]

Allowing things to fester does no one involved any good from interpersonal issues between two individuals or even within a larger community. The issue could only continue to escalate and get worse if not addressed appropriately and then reach a place of no return. This infection becomes real and absolutely terrifying in When Evil Lurks in the way it delves into something horrifying shrouded in so much mystery that makes the eventual reveal something bleak but also expertly crafted. 

Two brothers, Pedro (Ezequiel Rodríguez) and Jaime (Demián Salomon) find a body that leads them to a home of a mother and her two sons. They observe one of the two sons contains a hideous infection that the mother claims to be an abscess of evil that must be disposed of properly. When Pedro and Jaime take matters into their own hands, they see the repercussions of their failure as pandemonium begins to transpire all around them. 

Films just do not get as bleak as When Evil Lurks where it goes to places one would never think a film would go to reach its desired impact on its audience. I suppose it makes sense a film such as this did not get made in the United States but rather in Argentina and the cruelty it puts on display allows it to stand out amongst films of its ilk. This film brings quite an unexpected ferocity that only further makes each moment feel monumentally dreadful. The word dread certainly feels like the apt descriptor because as the title indicates, something evil continues to lurk in the shadows and the mystery of it continues to make it more frightening, especially when we see how it impacts the characters of the story. 

While unaware if this feature carries any cultural significance, the idea of evil dwelling within individuals and needing to be extracted properly certainly plays into several ideals of religion, but this film does not explicitly go down that route. Allegorically, sure, as the film transpires and when it concludes we can draw those lines as to where we can build connections but for the most part, everything in this film evokes this literalism of how evil appears and exactly what they need to do to extract it from their lives. Nearly surgical in its approach, it continues to be shrouded in mystery and when we see individuals take axes to their faces or act in terrifying ways. It only continues to beg the question of what exactly these characters are dealing with and in what way could they possibly end this torment. It spreads almost like a communicable disease but no real answers exist. 

Of the many things this film delivers, its shocking moments truly will push the boundary of what audience members can take, which includes different individuals getting “infected” by this evil and acting out in quite concerning ways. When this evil then impacts a dog, you just know a whole demographic of people better prepare themselves to how far out this evil can spread. These actions feel brutal and unforgiving, which helps in trying to piece together the reality of this evil and how these characters can appropriately act to avoid getting it and surviving. Everything centers back at one source and finding it becomes the most important task ahead for Pedro and Jaime as the stakes continue to rise and more individuals get impacted. 

With everything great this film does, so much praise must be heaped on writer/director Demián Rugna, who does a splendid job in extracting all the dread this story had to offer. Nothing about his sought to be pleasant but his commitment in following through with the horrors of this tale and how it impacts a group of people to a terrifying degree. He allows elements of this story to work quite simply while a larger parable exists overall, displaying what this film does so well. He does not let some light brutality get in its way and ensures that each of these moments have a chance to leave its impact because if you’re going to go for it, Rugna knows he might as well savor it. 

A complete and utter surprising meal of a movie, When Evil Lurks comes in as a horror film that received plenty of praise and deservedly so. A film that goes in a direction where audiences feel as if they have figured it out only to discover they are played into a larger story that makes for such a bleak look at the world. Nothing about this can be described as pleasant, but it certainly makes for an incredible viewing experience that stands out in ways I did not quite expect. It makes me so happy to see projects like this continue to exist because it certainly takes us on quite a ride. Certainly not one I would like to take again, but undoubtedly one that left a discernible impact.