‘ODDITY’: A Gripping Tale Of Supernatural Revenge
Irish writer-director Damian McCarthy’s follow-up to his acclaimed 2020 debut ‘Caveat’ is an unnerving haunted-house psychological horror that leaves you questioning whether supernatural evil might be preferable to human malice.
The film begins with a strikingly large and remote house situated in the Irish countryside. The house is home to Dani (Carolyn Bracken) and Ted (Gwilym Lee), a couple in the process of renovating it, with only a tent serving as their current shelter amidst the work in progress. It quickly becomes apparent that the wife is far more invested in the project than her husband, a doctor who works night shifts at a psychiatric hospital.
Carolyn Bracken in 'Oddity'
As night falls, a mysterious man with a missing eye knocks on the door, telling Dani that he saw someone sneak into the house while she was outside. Dani, unsure whether to trust him, becomes increasingly anxious. Alone in the middle of the night, she must decide whether to believe his story and unlock the door.
McCarthy ends the scene there, leaving us anxious for Dani’s fate, before seamlessly transitioning to a scene set several months later. Ted is now conversing with Dani’s twin sister Darcy (also played by Carolyn Bracken), who owns a curiosity shop in Cork aptly named Odello’s Oddities, where, according to her, "every item is cursed." Darcy, who is blind and deeply fascinated by the paranormal, possesses the ability to perceive the past of those who touched the objects she holds. It is through this eerie conversation that we learn Dani was brutally killed that night in her house, inside her tent.
Caroline Menton in 'Oddity'
Still grieving her sister's death, Darcy is shocked to discover that Ted has already moved on and is living in the house where Dani was murdered with his new girlfriend, Yana. Determined to uncover more about what happened to her sister, Darcy arrives at the house unannounced, bringing with her a creepy wooden mannequin that once belonged to the twins' parents.
The house itself is a character in the film—a vast, ominous space that feels more like a trap than a home. McCarthy uses the isolation of the setting to amplify the tension, creating a sense of unease that permeates every scene. Even with the renovations complete and the house appearing more welcoming at first glance, the image of Dani’s tent and the terror she endured within those walls is impossible to shake.
As night falls, the atmosphere shifts dramatically, and a sense of pure terror envelops the house. Yana, who has repeatedly told Ted she sees Dani’s ghost warning her to run, becomes increasingly panicked. McCarthy’s minimalist approach to inducing fear is highly effective, relying on darkness, stairway shadows, and empty spaces to suggest an unseen presence. He expertly uses the house’s architecture and renovation details to amplify the horror.
Darcy’s calm demeanour contrasts sharply with Yana’s growing desperation as she frantically searches for her car keys. Meanwhile, the eerie mannequin, its mouth wide open in a silent scream, seems to move and change positions, adding to the creeping dread. Jump scares are strategically placed to build tension throughout, while each surprise element is expertly crafted.
With ‘Oddity’, McCarthy once again demonstrates his ability to evoke dread through minimalistic storytelling and eerie visual cues. While some might argue that a few late revelations are predictable and easily guessed, this doesn’t diminish the film’s impact. The strong performances, pacing, and pervasive sense of terror more than compensate for any predictability.