- Date of Release: 20 August 2024
- Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery
- Language: English
Oddity
Introduction
The seamingly complex transition of genres from a whodunnit to an atmospheric thriller to a creepy horror and culminating into a pulpy finale in the English film Oddity will go down as a filmmaking masterclass. One look at Oddity, and you can make out that the regular tropes of a standard horror film are pretty much present – a beautiful yet eerily haunting mansion of stone, a murder to kick start the film, a blind clairvoyant having a connection with the supernatural, voids of silence and more. Yet, the ability of the filmmaker Damian McCarthy to incorporate these symbols and elevate a drama by infusing it with levels of tension culminating into a pulpy finale that not only gets under your skin but also forces you to break into a smile, was indeed genius filmmaking! I can’t quite remember the last occasion wherein a filmmaker has seemingly elevated a predictable written material by not only owning it but absolutely hitting it out of the park, and Oddity is exactly that film.
Story & Screenplay
Oddity follows the story of Darcy who happens to investigate the murder of her twin sister with the use of haunting items that would double up as her tools for revenge. The story here has a lot of transition phases incorporated but at its core it can be termed as a whodunnit transitioning into a revenge saga. It is very early on in the film that the actual murder that transpires, and by the end of the second act and in transition to the third, you do know the main perpetrator of the crime that has been committed. Yet, the filmmaking style rises above the predictability of the drama by serving a haunting piece of horror that is psychological and creepy coupled with pulpy undertones that definitely gets under your skin. The levels of tension created throughout the screenplay standing at 90 odd minutes is palpable while the narrative itself is taut, while offering a drama that lingers on for a while after the events have culminated.
The haunting ambience of the drama can be witnessed from the very first frame with the view of a mansion that is house to a character who is shown to be living in solitude. Dani has the entire house to herself to begin with, even as she spends her lonely times in the mansion even as her husband who is a psychiatrist, works at a nearby hospital in the township. There is something about the grey frames wovering over the mansion amidst the grey skies that paints an eerie picture, almost allowing the viewers some levels of anticipation over an incident that would soon transpire. The tension created is mostly atmospheric even as you are briefly acquainted with the characters before panning to the core incident. Notice the amount of buildup even as Dani finds a surprise visitor at her doorstep who arrives to warn her about the potential threat to her life. And even while she reluctantly buys into the argument, the writers do not dwell into the actual ‘killing’ that was reserved for a latter stage, but instead the focus shifts briefly on the investigation followed by another murder. This, even as the seemingly third wheel of the story, Darcy the twin sister of Dani who happens to be visually impaired and is a clairvoyant with a connection with the supernatural, takes centerstage.
If you look closely, the beats of the screenplay are predictable which means the whodunnit element of the drama may not be too hard to crack. Even by the start of the second act when Darcy visits the mansion of her sister and interacts with a couple of characters, a part of you would be able to crack the eventual perpetrator. But credit to the makers(including writers) for building up the layers of tension in the screenplay through the framings, and utilizing the atmospherics of the drama really well. The use of voids are terrifying, almost painting a haunting picture while contributing beautifully to the ambience of the drama. This, while not letting go of the standard tropes of the now bastardized horror genre(including jump scares), instead using it to the advantage of the drama, even while allowing conversations to flow. Even the brief set pieces of flashbacks are terrifying given how there is a glimpse of the incident used as a callback which doesn’t actually showcase the crime but creates images that are psychologically scarring.
The revelation does transpire by the end of the second act even though there is a minor attempt at creating a differential path for the viewers on the possibilities of the outcomes, that ends in a bit of a whimper. But soon, the eerie atmospheric horror transforms into a pulpy horror that most definitely gets under your skin, while as you are witness to chase sequences in the corridors of the supposedly haunted mansion. But the pulpiness in the drama doesn’t end there culminating into a fantastic callback but not quite relenting with the tonal beats of the drama which are filled with tension. As a result, even the end is creepy while forcing you to crack into a smile even as justice ‘would’ be served in a rather pulpy manner. The screenplay here might be predictable but it is well written.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but perfectly in sync with the brooding ambience of the drama, while also seamlessly transitioning according to the curveballs in the screenplay. I liked the use of silence here instead of a leading BGM created volumes of anxiety in my psyche while watching the drama. The blaring notes though were only reserved for a few jumpscares with great use of silence on either side of it. Also notice a relaxing piece of music being played out in the finale scene that is reflected of the mindset of a character in question who is oblivious of the fate that he/she would meet. This was a perfect example of how to use a BGM that is contrary to the tone of the drama, something that is far more effective in preparing the viewers for the inevitable. The cinematography comprises of stunning visuals that contribute to the mood and ambience of the drama. The wide frames coupled with top notch lighting, production design and some amazing match cuts paint a sense of fear in the minds of the viewers. Director Damian McCarthy delivers one of the filmmaking masterclasses here with his ability to rise above a seemingly predictable script. There was a purpose of building the terrifying ambience of the drama while having to incorporate the standard tropes of horror, and also having to seamlessly transition the sub-genres along the way, and Damian does such a perfect job here. This piece of direction has got to be one of my favourites this year wherein the predictability of the script became more indulgent for viewers after a point culminating into a pulpy finale!
Performances
The performances are pretty good here by the ensemble cast. Caroline Menton as Yana has her moments to shine, and she aces with her expressions along the way. Tadhg Murphy as Olin is a character that exudes of a sincere vibe yet is a character that stays under the eyes of suspicion, and he does a pretty solid job here. Steve Wall as Ivan is intimidating and does a splendid job. Gwilym Lee as Ted is quite a mysterious character who plays well with his duality. There is a polished vibe that he exudes, almost being too perfect to be true, while completely transforming at a later point, something that he carries off pretty well. Carolyn Bracken is excellent here particularly because she does play two drastically different characters here. Her ability to convince the viewers of two drastically different character traits and body languages of both Darcy and Dani, meant that she delivered a towering performance here.
Conclusion
Oddity is an eerie atmospheric ‘pulpy’ horror that definitely has the ability to get under your skin. But more importantly, this is a filmmaking masterclass by Damian McCarthy that elevates a seemingly predictable story while seamlessly transitioning genres along the way, thereby making it a brilliant watch through and through.
