Pyewacket: Tödlicher Fluch

Pyewacket is a low budget and light supernatural horror film that is worth watching.

It's the typical story of teenager summoning an evil creature but it's clever and very well acted. The script is simple and does it's work very well, building reasonable tension minute by minute.

The ending is kinda predictable but I still think it's satisfactory, since it closes the story in a believable way.

The first noticeable aspect of PYEWACKET is its cold, somber tone. The atmosphere is thick and heavy with foreboding from the first frame. Nicole Munoz never overdoes her role as Leah, the angst-ridden teen / dabbler in the occult. If her character had been over the top, it would've ruined the whole movie. Her friends are equally sedate.

When Leah decides to call upon the entity of the title, it's done in a natural, non-hyperbolic way. Her rash motive for doing so fits the age of the character. Laurie Holden puts in a solid performance as Leah's heartbroken mum, who never really knows what's going on until it's too late.

An unsettling, supernatural cautionary tale about the consequences of hasty decisions...

Pyewacket is a hidden gem for the lovers of the horror genre that might stay with you as "it follows" or "the babadook" did. Sure it does not have the scale or the production values, it does not have a major scope but it tells a slow, personal story with style and credibility. The movie is slow, but not in a pretentious and artsy way. It tells its story without flashy effects or jump scares and relies on character building. You can feel the transition the mother and daughter has been through, and you can see Leah's self esteem wavering when she needs to be sincerely accepted. The lore is simply there to move the story and does it in a subtle but impressing way. Everything from acting to music to visuals completes what comes out as this hidden gem called "Pyewacket". Watch it and see for yourself but know what you are getting into and do not judge the movie for what it's not.

This movie, as it has been accurately described, is a slow burn. It is no question that this low budget indie horror title is driven by solid performances, specifically by Nicole Munoz and Laurie Holden. The dynamic between these characters is believable and could pass as a standalone drama if the horror elements weren't included. The most impressive aspect of this film is how Adam MacDonald used his low budget to create a piece of film that uses effective storytelling and edge-of-your-seat suspense. If you're an individual who prefers the louder, high budget horror shows, I'm sad to say you will be slightly disappointed with this film. But if you enjoyed films like The Witch or It Follows, I can definitely recommend this movie, as I believe it is truly something special.

Adam Macdonald really arrives with Pyewacket. I was a bit put off by the idea of 'teen angst' being a center piece of the plot, but once I saw the type of angst Macdonald was talking about and the absolute realism and dramatic conflict (external and internal) that he divines from it, well I might never look at 'teen angst' the same way again.

It's well worth noting that 'slow burn' is a very apt description, and Pyewacket requires some patience, but luckily it thoroughly nails the delivery of its final act in a way that pays off the viewers endurance as well as the story.

Great film and should advance Macdonald up the charts in the horror genre. Can't wait to see what comes next.