Pyewacket: Tödlicher Fluch

Pyewacket is a low budget and light supernatural horror film that is worth watching.

It's the typical story of teenager summoning an evil creature but it's clever and very well acted. The script is simple and does it's work very well, building reasonable tension minute by minute.

The ending is kinda predictable but I still think it's satisfactory, since it closes the story in a believable way.

This movie, as it has been accurately described, is a slow burn. It is no question that this low budget indie horror title is driven by solid performances, specifically by Nicole Munoz and Laurie Holden. The dynamic between these characters is believable and could pass as a standalone drama if the horror elements weren't included. The most impressive aspect of this film is how Adam MacDonald used his low budget to create a piece of film that uses effective storytelling and edge-of-your-seat suspense. If you're an individual who prefers the louder, high budget horror shows, I'm sad to say you will be slightly disappointed with this film. But if you enjoyed films like The Witch or It Follows, I can definitely recommend this movie, as I believe it is truly something special.

The last twenty minutes felt a bit rushed and disorganized, compared to the languid, but tightly thought-out, slow-burn pace of the first 3/4 of the movie. But this meditation on impulsivity in the context of peer and parental relationships results in a very fine entry nonetheless. Yes, it is a "horror" movie (particularly towards the end). But it is also about human relationships.

That said, this is not a dialogue-intensive feature. Rather, there is heavy reliance on mood, lighting and subtle gestures to move the plot along (if you don't pay attention, it can be easy to miss important clues). As a result, this movie could have been a bomb. But I was VERY impressed with Nicole Muñoz, who manages to carry the weight of a near-100% screen time admirably. She is able to give us a very realistic depiction of a struggling teenager who swings between hope, anger, boredom and curiosity, as she negotiates a move with her mother away from her former home. Recommended for sure.

Pyewacket is a hidden gem for the lovers of the horror genre that might stay with you as "it follows" or "the babadook" did. Sure it does not have the scale or the production values, it does not have a major scope but it tells a slow, personal story with style and credibility. The movie is slow, but not in a pretentious and artsy way. It tells its story without flashy effects or jump scares and relies on character building. You can feel the transition the mother and daughter has been through, and you can see Leah's self esteem wavering when she needs to be sincerely accepted. The lore is simply there to move the story and does it in a subtle but impressing way. Everything from acting to music to visuals completes what comes out as this hidden gem called "Pyewacket". Watch it and see for yourself but know what you are getting into and do not judge the movie for what it's not.

I finally got a chance to check this movie out, and I feel I should say something level-headed given the mixed reviews. Lots of 10/10 and 1/10 reviews without much in the middle. I've seen my fair share of horror films, from masterpieces like The Shining and Rosemary's Baby, to camp like the Leprechaun series and Death Bed: The Bed That Eats. For a small independent production, I think this was a decent little horror movie, albeit with many flaws. Here's the good and bad:

The Good: The acting was pretty good overall. I appreciate how this movie didn't stoop to any cheap tricks to scare the audience. There are no jump scares (except for one edit that could debatably be called a fake out). It showed a surprising amount of restraint, relying on a slow escalation of events to build suspense. By not showing much, it makes your imagination run wild, and that's what makes it scary. If anything, I actually wish they had shown even less of the demon. It's nothing mind-blowing, but it's on the right track.

The Bad: The film looks cheaply made. The music and camerawork were serviceable but nothing great. Characterization was weak overall, though development between the mother and daughter was okay. The suspense built up pretty well for a majority of the runtime, but when you actually see the demon it's not very convincing. That CGI fire was pretty bad. Why didn't she show her mom the broken chair and door after that chase scene? In the hands of a more meticulous filmmaker with a higher budget, this could've been an A24 horror film like The Witch or Hereditary, but Pyewacket simply isn't on the same level.

If you're a psychological horror fan and/or an indie horror fan, I's say this movie is worth a watch, but don't expect to be blown away. If getting startled by something popping at the screen is the only thing you consider scary, this isn't for you.