Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
When brothers Pedro and Jimi discover that a demonic infection has been festering in a nearby farmhouse, they attempt to evict the victim from their land. Failing to adhere to the proper rites of exorcism, their reckless actions inadvertently trigger an epidemic of possessions across their rural community.
When Evil Lurks is a genuinely distinctive entry in demonic possession horror, reimagining the genre with its own bleak internal logic — demons spread like disease, exorcism rules are strict and arcane, and breaking them has cascading consequences. The plot is tightly constructed and relentlessly grim, with an escalating chain of catastrophes that feel earned rather than arbitrary. The Argentinian rural setting and Demián Rugna's unflinching direction give it a raw, singular texture that separates it from mainstream possession fare. Gore and body horror are deployed with real purpose rather than shock value alone. Acting is serviceable and grounded, keeping the film credible without standout performances. Cinematography is functional and appropriately grimy but not especially artful. The ending is appropriately bleak and thematically consistent, though its nihilism tips slightly into diminishing returns territory.