Oddity

Directed by Damian McCarthy, Oddity follows a blind medium (Carolyn Bracken’s Darcy) as she attempts to discern the truth behind her twin sister’s murder. Filmmaker McCarthy, armed with his own screenplay, does a terrific job of initially luring the viewer into a horror endeavor that grows more and more off-kilter as it progresses, as Oddity kicks off with a striking pre-credits sequence that details said twin sister’s exploits within a creepy old house – with the compelling vibe certainly enhanced by McCarthy’s atmospheric approach to his spare screenplay. And while the picture’s slow-burn midsection admittedly does push the deliberate aesthetic almost to its breaking point, Oddity has been suffused with a handful of genuinely creepy (and shocking) images and moments that prove effective at sustaining one’s interest throughout – with the completely satisfying third act (and final shot) ensuring that the whole thing concludes on an exceedingly positive note.

*** out of ****