Bet on Odd: Oddity (2024) Review

Director: Damian Mc Carthy

Notable Cast: Carolyn Bracken, Gwilym Lee, Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Jonathan French, Steve Wall, Joe Rooney

 

Oddity is a film chock full of elements that could easily go wrong. Despite a solid trailer and the backing of both Shudder and IFC Films to validate its content, it’s just a film filled to the brim with off-kilter aspects that, in the wrong hands, could immediately take the film deep into the uncanny valley. 

 

There are twins, a giant wooden monster doll, a psychic that collects haunted objects, and one of the main characters is the doctor at a mental illness facility. On paper, those could quickly go awry. I’ve seen a handful of movies with just one of those things that careen a film off the cliff and straight into unintentional comedy. I suppose that’s to be expected with a title like Oddity.

 

Yet, through and through, writer and director Damian Mc Carthy manages to breeze through the uncanny valley and straight into a film showcasing what it means to ‘thread the needle.’ Oddity is slathered in wild jump scares and terrifying tension. Its limited budget is a benefit in crafting what might translate to a theatrical stage very efficiently as a chamber horror, and the film creeps so cleverly into one’s psyche that it lingers well after the credits roll. Not unlike Mc Carthy’s previous film, Caveat. 

 

Dodging Bullets: Take Cover (2024) Review

Director: Nick McKinless

Notable Cast: Scott Adkins, Alice Eve, Jack Parr, Billy Clements, Mădălina Bellariu Ion, Renars Latkovskis, Nik Coleman, Alba De Torrebruna

 

Take Cover is simple, which I appreciate wholeheartedly. While theatrical action films continue to try to bring flocks of people to the theater with spectacle, the Scott Adkins vehicle continues to run on simple ideas, strong action execution, and just enough thoughtful drama to build a foundation. That's it. That's all. 

 

Take Cover is just that. Less is more. 

 

The concept? Two mercenaries, a sniper (Adkins) and his spotter (Parr), are trapped in a massive hotel room by another sniper and a handful of baddies waiting to crush them if they try to leave. The simplicity breeds creativity, and Take Cover can take advantage of it. Yes, the film does start outside the room, showcasing a job that goes sideways, the chemistry between the two men as partners, and their abilities as fighters, shooters, and escape artists, but really, it's all set up to The Room. Once it gets there, despite a few convenient flaws of logic in the script to keep them there, the film can start boiling tension and working its fun dynamics as an action flick.