Oddity is a decent horror endeavour where the scares are more memorable than the film itself. This ghost story, about a clairvoyant’s mission to find out the truth behind the death of her sister, is a haunting slow burn that loves to steep itself in atmospheric chills. But also, the production can’t help itself when given the opportunity for shriek-worthy jump scares.
Writer/director Damian McCarthy (Caveat) shows plenty of skillful competence for building tension. Even when the performances become exaggerations of themselves, McCarthy’s storytelling doesn’t waver while unraveling the film’s mystery; utilizing helpful resources like Oddity’s shadowy set design and a collection of creepy props.
While I’m inclined to remind McCarthy, for his next feature, to split his focus and engage with his characters more to prevent superficial acting, I would also hate to deter this promising filmmaker from their sheer passion for “old school” gothic storytelling.
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