The Wretched (2019) User Reviews

Not a Total Waste of Time, but Nothing Special

[ryan_sy · 6/10 · 2 May 2020]

This movie had the right pieces including a likeable protagonist, decent practical effects, and a brisk pace. But the plot felt "forced" by the end and it veered into an average movie. It lacked effective scares and a sense of dread that I like in a "witch" movie and the antagonist was not as frightening as I would have liked.

I don't regret watching it, but I was hoping for more.

Reminiscent of 80's horror

[kingreido · 7/10 · 6 July 2020]

I've been binging many of the classic 80's horror as well as cult classics and this film, The Wretched, gives me a similar feeling. It's your classic "I think my neighbor is a ____" with the mix of teen romance and family drama. It isn't an intellectual horror as this is a saturated genre, but it was fun to watch an updated version of the genre movies I love (fright night, the lost boys, etc). Like those films, they aren't perfect but they have there strengths as well as weaknesses. The creepiness was decent, but it was never very scary. It did a good job of slowly introducing the monster and building suspense. One thing I disliked was that the subplots failed to go below surface level so looking back they felt like a waste of energy - should have focused on only one along with the main story. However, the production was fantastic and you could tell they knew what they were doing. Actors were fine, but nothing to write home about.

Real rating: 6.3 (given a 7 because I feel the current score of 5.8 is bit too low)

Great Little 'Stumble-Upon' 100% Worth a Watch

[heratyplant · 7/10 · 1 May 2020]

Obviously a lower/ smaller budget, but unlike others, it both looks & sounds excellent; there's obviously very competent production in all departments here.

Lovely opening & the story skips right along, no annoying teen heavy story here, even though they are present & in lead roles, noticing what the 'stupid' old people aren't.

With competent & engaging performances all around from what seems like mostly 'newbies', successful & unusual monster effects, creepy moments & no unnecessary jump scares, you'll find very little to complain about. There is a back story, with the lead discovering our particular witch online, however this could have been expanded, to make a more engaging story. A further improvement would have been to spend a few more dollars on the soundtrack, but it's mostly unobtrusive & effective, if a little generic.

The denouement was twist-less but a nice little automotive surprise & the final floral question mark was delicious.

Serious gore/ horror fans may find this too light, but it was certainly enough for this devotee of the supernatural.

I liked it

[kirbie2182 · 7/10 · 3 May 2020]

This movie is actually pretty good, unlike some of the other no-name horror movies popping up around the same time (1BR, The Lodge, The other lamb). This one is hardly original, but it's got a lot of throwbacks - 80's vibe, and is Well shot with above par FX, And convincing no-name actors). It's got it's own, not always welcoming, twist ending, which worked in this case for the better. It's really a pretty decent horror/comedy flick that doesn't take itself too seriously, looks good on screen, and keeps your attention throughout. I enjoyed it.

Nice to see a decent movie

[staunton-gary · 7/10 · 3 August 2020]

Brilliant and well done horror. Amazing, considering the budget, don't let this put you off though, the quality and story were amazing.

Due to the pandemic, crap movies seem to be on the loose, this movie definitely doesn't fall into that category. It was refreshing.

Certainly not wretched but not great either.

[Stevieboy666 · 5/10 · 4 February 2022]

Seventeen year old Ben goes to live with his Dad and gets a job at the marina where he works. He notices strange things going at his neighbours' house, the sexy mother - who looks like a Goth/rock chick - has become possessed by an evil witch who lives in the nearby forest. The Wretched is a teen movie meets Folk Horror and I think that the former is the stronger aspect. As a horror movie it throws in plenty of "scares", perhaps we see too much, a common fault with modern horror, personally I didn't find it scary at all. There are a few good special effects, one of the best has the witch emerging from a persons abdomen. Acting is good enough, Pipar Curda as Ben's sort of girlfriend Mallory being my favourite character. As modern horror movies go this isn't too shabby.

Great watch

[queenofthedamned83 · 7/10 · 9 May 2020]

I really enjoyed this one, the plot is quite simple but intriguing and thoroughly engaging. The visual and sound effects were perfect and the acting was good. Nice little gem this one. Watch it with the lights out at night for added effect 😉

A Great Effort that Ends Up Being Fundamentally Basic

[TwistedContent · 5/10 · 1 May 2020]

I'm not sure was it the buzz going around before the release or what, but right off the bat I can say that, among other emotions, I'm also pretty disappointed. "The Wretched" is a reasonably well made horror movie, has all the typical makings of one - including a story that's pretty much put together of multiple familiarities, portions of "Fright Night", "The Witch", "Rear Window" (or "Disturbia", if You will), plus some body horror, and a kind of 80's feeling that seems to have stayed more of a goal than an achievement. Overall, "The Wretched" comes across as... fundamentally basic.

There's a story, and it flows evenly, it entertains, accompanied by a romp of characters, decent gore and cinematography. The problem is, it does so on a surface kind of level. The Pierce brothers utilize a wide selection of familiar tropes, ordinary devices and old tricks, perhaps trying to weave together something new, but ending up just uninspired. The plot follows a teenage boy who's struggling with his parents divorce, and has come to spend some time with the father, but life gets complicated when he notices something weird going on in the neighbor's house. An old, evil witch has come out the forest to mess around. Everything that can happen, will happen, love interest, conflicts with town bullies, conflicts with father and his new girlfriend, and other plotlines go where one would expect to as well. The characters are not the best ones to get behind for, and the evil presented lacks real dread and character Overall there's just no real delving in the psychology of what's happening, fear or mystery. However, everything works, but on a basic level, a kind of a flat line. Performances were okay all around, but some of the characters were given very little to work with. John-Paul Howard as the central hero Ben makes for an okay protagonist, though Ben's got nothing on Charley Brewster. Cinematography and editing can prompt as much critique, though on the background of all that's aforementioned, the visual side of things provided some comfort. Always extra appreciation for good practical effects, gore and such. Lastly, the original score, was, guess what, mostly as uninspiring as the rest.

I believe "The Wretched" is perhaps a better horror movie than I've described, but, personally, I find the best words for it are "fundamentally basic", which is why I'm recommending this to those less familiar or accustomed to the horror genre. My rating: 5/10.

Not that bad but could have been better.

[deloudelouvain · 6/10 · 24 September 2020]

Besides a couple inconsistencies in the story, just little things that made no sense, The Wretched is an entertaining movie in the "witch" genre. It isn't the best movie I ever watched in this genre but it's certainly worth a watch. The horror parts are well made and pretty decent in the "gore" genre. The acting was most of the time good, nothing to really complain about. That said it could all have been better but still there are a couple good creepy parts that will keep you attentive, and in a horror movie that's a bonus.

Average Movie

[advimrankhalid · 5/10 · 10 May 2020]

Was there something missing here or I did not enjoy it? I think the movie is good for audiences who just wanted a good watch (time pass) but not for the true horror fans. Something is missing with the movie it felt empty to me whole time I didn't realize that I am watching a horror movie because it didn't scared me at all. Recommended to those who wanted to watch a movie for good time pass.

A well executed practical effect focused throwback horror story, that delivers the disturbing imagery and a coming of age feel that older horror's had more of.

[tresm87 · 8/10 · 3 May 2020]

The Wretched trailer caught my eye a few months back and i thought it looked very intriguing. I then saw it was also receiving some great reviews from people that were at fall festivals it was shown at. I have always been looking for a witch themed film like this but had always been let down by blown potential of past films which I'm sure everyone can guess what those obvious titles were...

Honestly this film finally scratched the itch i had for a vicious witch tale with excellent makeup/practical effects and an extremely creepy atmosphere. It also isn't afraid to show viewers actual visuals of the main terrifying entities we've read or heard about for ages. The story also has a relative coming of age kind of feel to it with the main character that reminded me of many horror films of the 80's and made it more charming and fun. There were even some well placed sprinkles of comedy throughout that showed the film didn't have to take itself as serious or pretentious as some other films with same subject matter have.

Direction wise the camerawork is also very crisp and very well done, and the SFX add a lot to the experience. What really shines as i already mentioned, is the extreme attention to detail in the makeup/practical effects realm. To make a great creature/feature horror film, these are integral. To see a film in 2020 utilize that good old fashioned practical craft over CGI effects is very commendable and refreshing.

There are some moments that many will find cliche, and a few twists that may seem a bit unnecessary, but few and far between when considering how well done this lower budget film ends up finishing. Overall it's a fun throwback and a very straightforward horror film that gives the visual goods and the ominous feel that should come with its subject matter.

Lots of horror movies popping out but this one stands out

[kaefab · 7/10 · 6 May 2020]

I really like this movie its very well made the gore everything the witch is very mean and spares no one.

The effects where also very good. There is a lot of horror movies being made theses days and to be honest 99% are really bad but this one was a great surprise and stands out from the pack.

Unsatisfying

[Stoshie · 4/10 · 29 October 2020]

This was a strange movie (not in a good way) that left me empty. Too many loose ends not resolved, and an ending that, if you think about it, makes no sense. I don't like spoilers, but think about what the girl gave the boy at the end, and see if it is remotely logical that she would do that. I mean, the ending isn't original or unexpected, just poorly executed.

Overall, the movie just wasn't engaging. The characters weren't developed at all, just superficial, with too little information given about them to make us care about them.

In the end, the movie is entirely forgettable. You won't think about it after it is over, because there is nothing to think about. Just a poorly written attempt at combining horror with a teen drama story.

Don't bother with this one. If you do, you won't remember it anyway.

Great base story... just needed more character development.

[jane-love · 6/10 · 25 May 2020]

Almost there. I love a good scare. This one was a great concept. Missed the mark with no real character development. No build up. Needed to be drawn out .. more tense. enjoyed with the 14 year old teenagers that I watched with but for me .. i wanted to be scared but it never happened. 20% more and it would have been great.

Pretty fun actually

[3epkk9b · 6/10 · 2 May 2020]

Went in with no hope and it was surprisingly entertaining. Jump scares here and there, story and acting was convincing. Worth a watch.

Great idea, horrible execution

[alaisdair-68338 · 3/10 · 14 October 2020]

Two brothers to team up to write/direct a new horror film. While the lore is rich and designs are great to look at, the story is cliched and matches the tone of trying to be a cool 80's/90's film. While it is trying so hard to do this, it fails spectacularly. The characters are flat and one dimensional with dialogue to match. What is a really great concept fails under the creative hands at play here resulting in a movie to definitely miss.

The main story follows Ben (John-Paul Howard) a recent child of divorce who is sent to live with is dad for the summer holiday. Liam (Jamison Jones) owns the marina and puts Ben to work where he meets his summer romance Mallory (Piper Curda). Things seem to be normal in this beachside town when one night Ben hears a noise on the roof. His next door neighbours seem to be acting weird and after the disappearance of their kid (and memory of the incident!) he explores the lore of a witch who emerges to eat children and then make their family forget about them. As Ben gets closer to revealing the witch, the more that things just go off the rails story wise before whipping into a semi-origin tale for the witch and it just ends on a weird note that sets up a sequel.

While the film struggles with the story, the visuals are incredible. the design of the witch and the forest she inhabits utilises practical effects and is the best part of the movie by far. There is a creepy skull device that a lot of characters use as they get possessed by the creature. It is definitely effective and works well with the Witch's look. The tone of the film is trying to be a movie of the week horror film from the late 80's/early 90's and while it is trying to pay a homage to this, it just comes off as cheesy and outdated.

The performances from the cast can easily be forgiven due to the material they have to work with. It's unfortunate that a diverse cast get lumped with one dimensional characters and throwaway lines. It's a shame that a great concept went to waste, the film probably would have succeeded under a different director and a hefty re-write.

Polished but muddled

[mungflesh · 6/10 · 22 September 2019]

The Wretched is a lovely looking movie. Nicely acted and shot, with decent, practical special effects. I struggled with the story, which was ultimately a bit un-interesting.

Ben visits his father at a lakeside town. Some kind of demon-thing lives under a tree and has the power to cast a spell on people such that they 'forget' about the existence of loved ones around them. Paranoia sets in for Ben when neighbours are acting strangely ...

It's a well-edited mainstream pleaser but hanging off a story which doesn't add up very well. Some elements are great but it feels like another short that has prematurely evolved into a lacking feature, devoid of tension and scares.

It was well-received at FrightFest; I felt I was in the minority who didn't quite get it. If you're a fan of spooky, ghost/wraith type horror, it's entirely possible you might enjoy The Wretched. I didn't dislike it but nor did I take much away from it.

Messy Supernatural Film

[claudio_carvalho · 4/10 · 2 July 2021]

"The Wretched" is a supernatural film with a messy screenplay and story. The idea of a snoopy teenager that finds a witch that feeds of children and make people around forget them is interesting. The creepy special effects are excellent. Unfortunately, the development of the story and characters is poor and with lack of many explanations. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "A Bruxa da Casa ao Lado" ("The Witch in the Next Door")

Comic Book Horror

[Dragonborn64 · 7/10 · 29 August 2020]

This is like a really good 80's horror. Kinda fluff but some good twists and a coming of age tale thrown in. I liked it. The lead is very good. Def worth a peek.

Potential - but I'm not buying it.

[kristoffersson-70984 · 2/10 · 2 May 2020]

This movie had potential. It's quite well made with beautiful shots and the special effects are good. Just a little too much teenage drama for my taste. Ditching a family dinner for a party, getting drunk, late night swimming in the pool, bullies pranking the new guy... For a moment there I thought I was watching The O.C. But if you are willing to ignore all the stupid teenageers doing teenagers stuff - it's an alright movie.

With that said - I can not get over the fact that the husband next door was so CLUELESS. His wife was a beer-drinking, boots-wearing rocker girl. He comes home one night after work to find his wife standing outside the neighbours house. She is wearing a long summer-dress, perfect make up and high heels with her hair perfectly flowing around her shoulders. His son is hiding in the neighbours house and he is clearly terrified for some (not so) mysterious reason. And what does this clueless man do? He takes his son home and tucks him in bed. A normal person would at least think "hey, this is a bit odd. Wifey is acting stranger than usual".

And that dog scene at the lake was just uncalled for.

Worth a watch

[cwlee-nyc · 8/10 · 31 July 2022]

Well enough done and the light touches of lore add a lot to the delivery of the movie. The pacing and stakes of the film are inconsistent though, with a slow build towards a surprise twist at the end. The protagonist is well done for a horror movie, without the usual string of bad decisions that plague horror films. The practical effects are good as well.

Overall the film suffers from a lack of intensity - good lore, good actors, and a good twist are left feeling incomplete due to any ante in the movie as the horror is reasonably contained to the protagonist's experience and he remains proactive throughout.

A good horror movie, simple as that.

[craigdaly78 · 7/10 · 15 November 2020]

I enjoyed The Wretched. As other reviewers mentioned, it has a nice 80s throwback feel, great practical effects and a nice pace. Really liked the ending twist too, as much as I hoped it wasn't the case! But again, nothing deep about the movie at all, no hidden meanings. Just a good horror movie, something we all need every now and then.

Waaaay better than I thought.

[red-nevermore-smith · 5/10 · 1 August 2020]

Starts off kind of teen drama but gets better and better. Amazing effects and great third third act. If you like pg horror this is well worth your time. Disturbia/rear window meets fright night.

The Dark Mother is back - And she has never even been here before!

[omendata · 7/10 · 19 June 2020]

Apologies for the Trancers steal but this is a new twist on the old tale of Hekate the Dark mother and its a rather polished performance all round.

Plenty of scares , some great creature effects and good acting make this one a cut, slice and chop above most of the horror films this year.

One to add to the spooky forest horror tales - Personally i have always found films centred around nature, the woods , trees and folklore rather disturbing and interesting at the same time - Must be something primeval but this adds to the terror especially the scenes underground, it reminds me of films like the Kevin Costner film The New Mother and The Hollow and many others but I feel this one has spun it well with Hekate the witch instead of the usual goblins and sprites and things that go bump in the night.

I don't normally like endings which prepare for a sequel but i did like the cryptic understated ending on this one.

A good 7 hatchets out of 10 for this one!

A mild but nice horror

[yogeshevolution · 6/10 · 8 May 2020]

The movie is simple keeping horror basics with jump scares and witch tale. The story is good. Though the movie is predictable still it doesn't disappoint. The horror is mild and could have made more scary if attempted rightly.