Pyewacket

The first noticeable aspect of PYEWACKET is its cold, somber tone. The atmosphere is thick and heavy with foreboding from the first frame. Nicole Munoz never overdoes her role as Leah, the angst-ridden teen / dabbler in the occult. If her character had been over the top, it would've ruined the whole movie. Her friends are equally sedate.

When Leah decides to call upon the entity of the title, it's done in a natural, non-hyperbolic way. Her rash motive for doing so fits the age of the character. Laurie Holden puts in a solid performance as Leah's heartbroken mum, who never really knows what's going on until it's too late.

An unsettling, supernatural cautionary tale about the consequences of hasty decisions...

The story does start out at a slower pace however the dynamics between the mother - daughter, their fight and her reaction reminded me of the tense relationship I had growing up at times with my own mother. Unfortunately she makes a rash decision and the consequences play out in a very creepy and disturbing manor.

I really liked her time in the gift shop, the idea that the evil is within etc. Well done. Will look for more from this writer.

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.

Adam Macdonald really arrives with Pyewacket. I was a bit put off by the idea of 'teen angst' being a center piece of the plot, but once I saw the type of angst Macdonald was talking about and the absolute realism and dramatic conflict (external and internal) that he divines from it, well I might never look at 'teen angst' the same way again.

It's well worth noting that 'slow burn' is a very apt description, and Pyewacket requires some patience, but luckily it thoroughly nails the delivery of its final act in a way that pays off the viewers endurance as well as the story.

Great film and should advance Macdonald up the charts in the horror genre. Can't wait to see what comes next.

"The demon is very manipulative. Don't trust in your eyes"

Next scene? She trusts in her eyes.

Forgetting that, it is an enjoyable slow burn that is not *that* terrifying, it is a bit rushed, but it is still able to create a tense and creepy atmosphere.