Damian McCarthy's supernatural revenge tale delivers old-fashioned scares with a wooden mannequin that will haunt your nightmares.
Damian McCarthy understands something Hollywood often forgets: the best horror objects are human-sized. His wooden mannequin in Oddity is the most unsettling screen presence since Annabelle first smiled. And unlike that doll, this one could actually fight back.
Shot in the same converted barn in County Cork as McCarthy's debut Caveat, Oddity is a testament to what atmosphere and performance can achieve without blockbuster resources. Carolyn Bracken's dual performance anchors both emotional and supernatural elements.
The premise is beautifully simple: Darcy believes her brother-in-law Ted murdered her sister and framed a mental patient. Unable to prove it through conventional means, she arrives with her collection of cursed objects and lets supernatural justice take its course.
Winner of the SXSW Audience Award and 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, Oddity is essential viewing. Just don't watch it alone.
Pros
- + Carolyn Bracken's dual performance
- + Genuinely terrifying wooden mannequin
- + Masterful slow-burn atmosphere
Cons
- - Slow pacing may test some viewers
Verdict
An elegant, spooky ghost story that proves you don't need a massive budget to terrify.