“Just give it five minutes,” I told myself as I braced to start watching When Evil Lurks (Cuando Acecha La Maldad), a new movie from Terrified writer and director Demián Rugna.
You know how Indiana Jones says, “Snakes? Why did it have to be snakes?” That’s how I feel about demons —in both horror movies and paranormal shows. (Except unlike Indy, who was afraid of snakes, I don’t fear demons.)
But substitute “demons” for “snakes” and that was my exact reaction when I received a screener from Shudder for When Evil Lurks.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’m always stoked to get the chance to screen a movie ahead of time, so thank you very much, Shudder!
It’s just that demonic possession is my least favorite horror sub-genre, and 2023 seems to be shaping up to be the year of demon movies. First, there was Evil Dead Rise. I wasn’t a fan of the original, so I had no desire to watch it…until I saw the extended preview. Interest piqued! (Sadly, I only made it a third of the way through before I could no longer suspend my disbelief and clicked it off.)
The new Exorcist movie also looks intriguing. I thought the original Exorcist was good and that it was cool a new one was coming out, but I wasn’t overly excited about the reboot…until I saw the trailer. It looks like it has potential.
But mostly I find demon movies and situations more laughable and unrealistic than scary. Would When Evil Lurks offer something new to challenge my indifference?
Ay yai yai, si!
When Evil Lurks Synopsis
Here’s the Google-translated version from Aramos Cine:
Two brothers find this man about to give birth to evil and warn the townspeople about the revulsion that is about to break out. They decide to get rid of the man but all they can do is help him give birth to hell. They must flee with their families before the madness and destruction sweeps them away. The demon has been born in the town and begins to leave its unmistakable trail of horror on it.
No Spoiler Review
One thing Rugna is not afraid of doing is pushing boundaries. No. Destroying boundaries. These two lines exemplify that: “God is dead.” and “The time of churches ended quickly.”
So, okay, that’s a little spoiler. You won’t see any holy water being thrown around or churches providing refuge. Rugna institutes a fresh approach to demons in When Evil Lurks.
As much as I want to write about a few particular scenes, they’re best left as unspoiled and pure as possible for maximum viewing effect.
Let’s just say the tension and anticipation were over the top in a couple of parts. So much so that I found myself holding my breath in those scenes, but I didn’t even realize it until a jump scare squeezed it out of me. Maybe that’s another reason I liked When Evil Lurks so much. It’s among the rare movies to not only elicit a jump but also a little yelp.
But what I most admired was the unconventional take on demons, or “Possessed Ones” or “Rottens” as they’re called, and the seven rules to follow when encountering one.
Critcisms
My biggest criticisms were the demon-destroying device and the ending.
The complicated, confusing apparatus made no sense. If they explained how it was supposed to work, something may have been lost in translation. I can see why the disease (which is what the demons really boiled down to being) spreads if it takes them that long to set everything up to deal with them.
Then there was the ending. Anticlimactic. Then again, endings are hard to get right, and most are unsatisfying.
So maybe When Evil Lurks isn’t the best demon horror movie, but it is one of the most original in a long time. It’s also a damn fine horror movie. I’m glad I watched it and am anxious for others to see it, too, so we can discuss it.
When Evil Lurks Release Date
I haven’t figured out when it’ll be on Shudder, but I’m willing to wager sometime soon. If you’re looking for a scary movie with engaging characters and an unexpected plot, watch for it.
For More Info
Visit https://www.shudder.com.
Check-In
Do you have a favorite demon horror movie?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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