Pyewacket

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.

"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.

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...

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.