Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: WHEN EVIL LURKS [Fantastic Fest 2023 - Austin, Texas]

The essence of evil and local lore resounds in certain ideas of what possession means. The concept of "When Evil Lurks" resounds on the intent of doing the right thing which undeniably can cause unforseen circumstances and responses. The story here takes place is a suburban/rural area of Argentina where people are trying to go about their day. The texture of the story however reflects in the aspect of superstitions versus the natural order. The flashpoint is a person who is "possessed" but the rules and the continuation of what his disorder might bring, slowly and surely unfolds with a sense of malice. The possession does an interesting approach in that it infects certain things and people in certain ways.

Pedro and Jimmy, the two lead characters, undeniably linked in a certain way by an impossible situation anyway, have to find their way through the carnage. The acting by both men, especially Ezequiel Rodriguez (Pedro) is quite dynamic. The decisions made and how you can see the men trying to see down the different roads brings to mind aspects of the beginning of "Dawn Of The Dead" and "The Forever Purge". Director Demian Rugna doesn't go so far off the reservation that the dread doesn't make sense but finds a balance interestingly enough. Some spots are down just for shock value but others create a resonance in a weird way. Jimmy doing a drive by of someone he used to be close to in the dead of night is creepy but warranted especially in his eventual reaction. But many times it is the inferrance.

When Pedro tries to save his family, the coincidence of actions that keep happening crescendo to a final shot where nothing is sacred and nothing is protected and yet many decisions could not have been made differently. Another specific context that is well established paints the rules of this specific world which allows and doesn't allow for certain ways to fight back. It is those ideas that make the audience part of the adventure because they know it is a matter of time before everyone makes a mistake that could lead to ruin. The one that starts it off per see on a farm is brutal but the strategy of it makes sense in the story progression. This is why When Evil Lurks because it knows where it is going, it doesn't overplay it but all the character progressions lead to an undeniable conclusion. B+

By Tim Wassberg