By Melissa Antoinette Garza
As of late, I have had very good luck with straight-to-DVD horror movies. After having a rough day, I opted to go to a Redbox kiosk with the hopes of finding Crush (2013). Though, they didn’t have any copies of that, there was a movie I hadn’t heard of. The cover of The Wicked didn’t seem too impressive. It was a close-up of a witch with yellow eyes and sharp teeth.
I almost passed on it but then I read the synopsis. A group of teenagers investigate an urban legend surrounding a monster known as The Wicked. I’m a sucker for urban legends so with zero expectations I rented it.
The film opens when Amanda (Caitlin Carmichael) scared to death confesses to her mother that she went with a few older kids to the Wicked’s house where she threw a rock shattering a window. The mother attempts to calm her daughter down, but to no avail. That night, Amanda is kidnapped. Some believe the witch has taken her. Others are skeptical and believe there is a rational explanation.
Looking for a fun time, high school seniors Zach (Justin Deeley) and Carter (Chase Maser) along with romantic prospects Tracy (Jackelyn Gauci) and Julie (Jess Adams) decide to find the witch’s house and put the legend to the test.
Zach is a real jerk. He constantly makes fun of his younger brother Max (Devon Werkheiser) and Max’s girlfriend Sammy (Diana Hopper). He goes as far as to say homophobic remarks to Sammy calling her a lesbian.
Sammy is obviously picked on a lot but the girl has a good head on her shoulders. Though she is harassed by the inept and corrupt police, she has wit and can hold her own even when being detained by them.
Meanwhile, the witch is on the hunt. Her intent is to use the children of the town for her own gain. The little children help her retain her youth. The older kids give her strength and power. Lastly, she can absorb the beauty of others thus masking her ugliness.
When the witch is hideous, the make-up is fantastic. Though she isn’t necessarily scary looking, she most certainly is cool. As we don’t get to personally know the witch, there are elements of mystery that surround the legend throughout the film.
The legend of the witch and the house where she resides definitely helps create a creepy atmosphere. The plot is interesting and the characters are distinguishable and fascinating in their own right. The actors were above par and the casting was perfect.
There was a nostalgia surrounding the movie as it felt like something made twenty years ago. I mean that in the best possible way. It was the way in which the teenagers related to one another and the way that they communicated that just screamed the 80s. If I were to guess, I’d say that the creators of the film were definitely fans of 1980s horror.
Overall, it was an interesting production that delivers in every important way. Though it did lag in some areas, they were few and far between. Not to mention, the action and horror sequences more than made up for it.
The conclusion though not surprising was definitely fitting. I certainly recommend this one and am actually hopeful that perhaps a sequel will be made.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
