Pyewacket

I don't often have patience for the "slow burn" horror movies, but that's because so many entries into that little sub-genre of horror don't actually have the goods to back up their approach, and often seem to do it simply because their budget ran out or they needed a way to pad out the minutes.

Pyewacket is successful in its attempt to build suspense and tension though, and the cast, script, and direction are good enough to hold your attention until the end despite the fact that very little is actually directly shown in terms of the evil presence at work here.

It's not going to blow your mind, but it's a solid, relatively well-crafted story with a memorable ending.

P.S. Don't listen to that ridiculous 1/10 kid's review that claims you need to be "a professor" to understand this one. This is absolutely not one of those movies with some complex meta plot that you need to rewatch to be able to catch everything. It's 100% straightforward and literally explains right to the viewers' faces what is happening. You shouldn't have any trouble whatsoever understanding this movie unless you ride the short bus.

I finally got a chance to check this movie out, and I feel I should say something level-headed given the mixed reviews. Lots of 10/10 and 1/10 reviews without much in the middle. I've seen my fair share of horror films, from masterpieces like The Shining and Rosemary's Baby, to camp like the Leprechaun series and Death Bed: The Bed That Eats. For a small independent production, I think this was a decent little horror movie, albeit with many flaws. Here's the good and bad:

The Good: The acting was pretty good overall. I appreciate how this movie didn't stoop to any cheap tricks to scare the audience. There are no jump scares (except for one edit that could debatably be called a fake out). It showed a surprising amount of restraint, relying on a slow escalation of events to build suspense. By not showing much, it makes your imagination run wild, and that's what makes it scary. If anything, I actually wish they had shown even less of the demon. It's nothing mind-blowing, but it's on the right track.

The Bad: The film looks cheaply made. The music and camerawork were serviceable but nothing great. Characterization was weak overall, though development between the mother and daughter was okay. The suspense built up pretty well for a majority of the runtime, but when you actually see the demon it's not very convincing. That CGI fire was pretty bad. Why didn't she show her mom the broken chair and door after that chase scene? In the hands of a more meticulous filmmaker with a higher budget, this could've been an A24 horror film like The Witch or Hereditary, but Pyewacket simply isn't on the same level.

If you're a psychological horror fan and/or an indie horror fan, I's say this movie is worth a watch, but don't expect to be blown away. If getting startled by something popping at the screen is the only thing you consider scary, this isn't for you.

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.

"The demon is very manipulative. Don't trust in your eyes"

Next scene? She trusts in her eyes.

Forgetting that, it is an enjoyable slow burn that is not *that* terrifying, it is a bit rushed, but it is still able to create a tense and creepy atmosphere.