Pyewacket

The last twenty minutes felt a bit rushed and disorganized, compared to the languid, but tightly thought-out, slow-burn pace of the first 3/4 of the movie. But this meditation on impulsivity in the context of peer and parental relationships results in a very fine entry nonetheless. Yes, it is a "horror" movie (particularly towards the end). But it is also about human relationships.

That said, this is not a dialogue-intensive feature. Rather, there is heavy reliance on mood, lighting and subtle gestures to move the plot along (if you don't pay attention, it can be easy to miss important clues). As a result, this movie could have been a bomb. But I was VERY impressed with Nicole Muñoz, who manages to carry the weight of a near-100% screen time admirably. She is able to give us a very realistic depiction of a struggling teenager who swings between hope, anger, boredom and curiosity, as she negotiates a move with her mother away from her former home. Recommended for sure.

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 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.

The story does start out at a slower pace however the dynamics between the mother - daughter, their fight and her reaction reminded me of the tense relationship I had growing up at times with my own mother. Unfortunately she makes a rash decision and the consequences play out in a very creepy and disturbing manor.

I really liked her time in the gift shop, the idea that the evil is within etc. Well done. Will look for more from this writer.

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.