Mike Flanagan Names this Terrifying Streaming Horror Movie as One of the Year’s Best: “This one gets under the skin”
If I were to pick the most surprising horror film of 2024, it would undoubtedly be Damian Mc Carthy’s Oddity. Even having previously experienced his similarly uneasy horror picture Caveat, I had no idea what I was in for. All I can say is, wow, what a wild ride. As it turns out, Hush director Mike Flanagan was similarly taken with Mc Carthy’s surreal tale of sweet revenge.
Flanagan is well-known to cinephiles for sharing his take on genre films (and beyond) via Letterboxd. He had plenty to say about Oddity. The film cracked his top ten of 2024 (across all genres), landing in 8th place overall. The Doctor Sleep director shared a brief review of the film which reads in part: “I loved this. One of the best of the year, for sure, and confirmation that Mc Carthy is the real deal. This one gets under the skin.”
Well said, Mike. The film indeed got under my skin as well. Oddity got under my skin thanks, in no small part, to Carolyn Bracken’s versatility in a delightful double role. The actor so convincingly plays two different characters that I didn’t immediately realize she was playing Dani and Darcy.
Dread Central named Oddity our #1 favorite horror movie of 2024. Chad Collins explains why, writing:
“His tale of blind psychics, unsolved murders, and terrifying wooden mannequins doesn’t have much to say, and it doesn’t need to. Mc Carthy’s film simply wants to scare the willies out of the audience, and on that level, it succeeds in the purest form possible. It takes a lot to scare me nowadays, and Oddity is a testament to how some filmmaking prowess, strong performances, and a classic haunting can still do that more successfully than most. This is the 2024 horror template.”
Mc Carthy’s direction effectively establishes an increasingly tense atmosphere with each passing minute. Darcy is a well-realized lead who has no time for social graces. That brazen, unapologetic approach adds to the intensity of the proceedings and leads to an off-the-rails denouement I will not soon forget.
If you are keen to experience Oddity for yourself, you can catch the flick on Shudder now. You can also scope Mc Carthy’s 2020 film Caveat. Both titles are Shudder originals, and both are essential to viewing.
The setup for this Mike Flanagan-endorsed chiller is this:
Dani Odello-Timmis, a psychiatrist’s wife, is brutally murdered in her newly acquired country house. Her twin sister, Darcy, a clairvoyant, investigates the crime, uncovering a sinister plot involving her sister’s husband, Ted. Darcy’s pursuit of truth leads to a terrifying confrontation with the dark forces at play, ultimately resulting in a shocking and tragic conclusion.
That’s all we’ve got for you at present. Stay tuned to the site in the coming days for more essential updates from your favorite cinematic luminaries as we succeed at uncovering them. If you’d like to discuss why Oddity stands out amongst its peers, find me on Threads @FunWithHorror.
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