Oddity feels like that urban legend you pass around in the school yard saying “did you hear about this crazy shit that happened?”

From its opening moments, it’s clear that Oddity isn’t going to be your typical haunted doll affair. Throwing the audience right into the middle of events, the film builds a sense of mystery right from the outset. In fact, Oddity feels less like modern horror fare and instead invokes memories of stories from EC horror comics from the 1950’s like Tales From The Crypt or The Vault of Horror without being over reliant on nostalgia bait. It’s actually quite impressive to see a modern horror film pull off such a feat in a horror landscape that’s quick to yell out “remember this?!” in the subtext of even the biggest of hits. 

Before I get ahead of myself, what even is Oddity? Written by Damien Mc Carthy, the film tells the story of a medium named Dani, who’s out to uncover the truth about her sister’s murder from the previous year. Whereas most would go the route of hiring a private investigator or getting the police involved, Dani instead uses something far more eerie: a human sized wooden mannequin.

Where most other movies would use that set up to provide a plethora of typical jumpscares or an over reliance on typical horror troupes, Oddity instead uses it to build on atmosphere. Scenes take place in desolation, often taking place in empty rooms featuring one or two actors. It builds a unique tone that evokes the feeling of what the internet would call “spooky vibes”. I love how Oddity uses this to allow the viewer’s imagination to run wild. The film never shows its hand, instead asking the viewing to soak up its unique brand of dread. I walked away very impressed with how Mc Carthy tells a horror story. It’s hard to capture the feeling without diving into spoilers but likeI said earlier it felt like a unique blend of 50’s horror comics or urban legends passed down through generations. It’s very good stuff!

Oddity at times feels a tad uneven though, particularly in an artistic choice. The film features a horrifying mannequin design that feels primed for a film with jumpscares but is instead used in pockets of darkness. Scenes that take place in complete darkness completely obscure its horrifying design so much that I found myself pondering why such an overdesign was decided to be used as the focal point of the film. It’s the equivalent to buying a garish sports car and using it to drive no more than 40 mph on a Sunday drive. It doesn’t require such an over design! If every other element in your film requires a certain level of viewer engagement to establish just how scary it is, there’s no need to give them an over-designed spooky mannequin. That’s just my opinion.

Particular praise needs to be given to Carolyn Bracken, who pulls double duty not only as Dani the medium but also her sister Darcy. Bracken brings a level of mystique to Dani that had me questioning her motives and intentions throughout the runtime of the film. Sure her intentions are noble and even justified but the way she goes about her actions brings a sinister feeling to the entire situation. Her performance is surprisingly nuanced for someone playing a blind medium, a role that traditionally would welcome over the top acting. It brings me no joy to say that her performance is the only one I enjoyed though. Though Oddity features a small cast, half of the actors deliver deadpan delivery or are cartoonishly villainous leading to an uneven feeling whenever Bracken wasn’t on screen.

I had a wonderful time with Oddity. The way the film builds on a looming sense of dread and the unknown is great. Scenes drowning in shadows that allow the viewer to make assumptions about what is transpiring feel genuinely scary. The central mystery kept me guessing until the very end instead of beating me over the head with explanations like most modern horror are so quick to do. Oddity feels like that urban legend you pass around in the school yard saying “did you hear about this crazy shit that happened?” Though every single element doesn’t always work for me, it’s hard to deny just how original and spooky Oddity is, and for that it’s worth celebrating.

Grade: B-

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Release Date: July 19, 2024
Where to Watch: In Select Theaters