When Evil Lurks (2023) - Movie Review

What do you get when one of the most visionary directors Latin America has ever produced stealth drops a sequel to one of my top reviewed films of all time?

An expectation shattering cosmic horror masterpiece.

Let’s discuss.

When Evil Lurks is a 2023 Cosmic Horror film brought to us by the master of Spanish language horror, Damián Rugna. His previous effort, 2017’s Aterrados (Terrified), is one of the best cosmic horror films I’ve ever seen. It was a film that made you feel the frightening wonder of reading the stories of Lovecraft or Blackwood. Cosmic horror is a bleak genre as man more often stands no chance against the forces levied against it. It’s hard to keep an audience engaged when there is no hope, but this is where Rugna finds his greatest success.

This film focuses on a pair of brothers Pedro and Jimi. They live a secluded life in a remote Argentinian village, attempting to mind their own business. But when they hear a flurry of gunshots in the middle of the night, they’re drawn out to investigate and uncover a horror beyond comprehension. A corrupted man has been festering in the wilds, his body a womb of pure evil. To save their town, they do their best to remove the man from their area—but their attempt at salvation may have just doomed the world. Will Pedro and Jimi be able to correct what they have done, or will they be the first to watch the world burn?

Rugna is a masterful storyteller as his films do not use exposition to tell the story. His films rely on environmental storytelling. The movie doesn’t treat you like an idiot or hold your hand. You need to put your phone down and pay attention if you want to get a grasp on what the hell is actually going on.

The film sucks you into its horrible reality and doesn’t let up. There are moments of hope, spoiled by the flaws in our protagonists.

Everything in this film is executed to perfection. The grotesque practical special effects are married with Rugna’s trademark mind bending, but sparing use of cgi. There’s an uncanny valley to the way Rugna uses effects and it makes you doubt your own sanity just as much as the characters in the film.

It all wouldn’t work without the incredible cast that includes Demián Salomón, Ezequiel Rodriguez, and Luis Ziembrowski. Every actor and actress in this film pours their heart and soul into their roles. You can tell everyone who worked on this film wanted it to be a success.

This is a much watch film.

Please check this out streaming exclusively on Shudder.