The Wretched (2019)

Directed by: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce | 95 minutes | horror, thriller | Actors: John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Azie Tesfai, Zarah Mahler, Kevin Bigley, Gabriela Quezada Bloomgarden, Richard Ellis, Blane Crockarell, Judah Abner Paul, Ja’layah Washington, Amy Waller, Ross Kidder, Kasey Bell, Harry Burkey, Trudie Underhill, Sydne Mikelle, Tug Coker, Madelynn Stuenkel, Owen Thomas Pierce, Pamela Gray, Ryan Alexander Holmes, Kenzie Jones, Oliver Jones

Ben is a seventeen-year-old teenager who, although he tries to hide it from the outside world, is having a hard time dealing with his parents’ divorce. He lives with his mother, but when he breaks his arm under the influence of drugs, Ben ends up with his father Liam. There is not much to do in the quiet town where he lives and the risk of a further derailment is therefore small. Ben’s father has a small marina where the boy can work. Ben soon gets into a fight with a couple of annoying rich kiddos, while he also doesn’t react enthusiastically to his old lord’s new flame. Fortunately, his colleague Mallory is a nice distraction. Liam’s neighbors also seem to make a nice family. However, that does not remain the case when the neighbor starts to behave particularly strangely. Ben discovers she is possessed by an evil entity that craves tender childhood meat…

Witches are without a doubt among the most popular supernatural beings in popular culture and the international film universe. Consider making a somewhat original film on this theme. Still, the Pierce brothers come a long way in ‘The Wretched’. The witch in this film is not a seductive shrew, charming young lady or old woman in a candy house. No, it is an ancient and terrifying entity that likes to hide in animal carcasses and female bodies and reside in a dark cave under the roots of an ancient tree. This profile, strongly rooted in traditional folklore, guarantees a few gory and deliciously scary scenes that will delight the true horror fan. An important plus is that the effects and make-up in ‘The Wretched’ are of above-average quality and are accompanied by inventive, stylish camera work that often appeals to the imagination of the viewer.

In addition to the dominant horror component, the film also has some elements of a teen drama that are not always convincing. A boy struggling with his parents’ divorce and also not really in vogue among his popular peers; we’ve seen it before. Still, it helps the viewer to bond with the main characters, especially since the acting of John-Paul Howard (Ben) and Piper Curda (Mallory) is quite acceptable for a horror production.

‘The Wretched’ clearly shows that the makers know their Pappenheimers and are inspired by various horror gems from the eighties of the twentieth century. Especially the comparison with ‘Fright Night’ is obvious. In that film, teenage Charlie Brewster discovers that his charming-looking neighbor is actually a vampire. ‘The Wretched’ is nowhere as good as the original ‘Fright Night’, but that does not alter the fact that the Pierce brothers have created a nice and refreshing horror film with well-known building blocks. Especially if you wait until the sun has set and the curtains are drawn, ‘The Wretched’ is excellent input for a nice creepy evening.