Review: ‘When Evil Lurks’ unleashes fear, shocking gore

We’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this new horror film called #WhenEvilLurks, and it’s amazing to have it in our own theaters as it comes out on December 6, presented by CreaZion Studios.

We were among the first ones to watch it on the big screen through its premiere night on December 1 — and what better way to experience its terror than through a midnight advance screening where everyone was advised to follow the red motif. The event was complemented by live gimmicks of talents in prosthetics, including a young boy with mud-like red clay all over his head and body, as well as a bloodied woman with a wounded face dragging along a mannequin of a dead boy. Those theatrics alone made the whole night memorable as the talents roamed around in particularly scary scenes that could put you on the edge of your seats.

The movie rolled out fast with one terrorizing scene after another, pumping out the excitement of what more it has to offer. It combines horror, the supernatural, and intense thrills for chilling viewing that is not for the faint-hearted. It grabs your attention right from the start, and it just keeps you wanting more of the demonic possessions that keep on happening: transferring from one body to another.

With the effective gore and violence amidst the balance of daytime and nighttime scenes, it creates palpable tension thanks to the wonderful hand of Argentine director Demián Rugna. Our audience screamed in suspense, so it is easy to assume that it could have the same effect in its wide release. These elements are skillfully blended to intensify the fear, offering an immersion deep into the typical horror boundaries.

Bring a friend or two to the cinemas and don’t forget to take note of its R-16 rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Their reason for classification reads, “The film contains graphic but non-gratuitous depiction of horror, frightening scenes and gore, graphic but non-gratuitous depiction of violence and gore, language, themes of evil possession that may not be suitable for children below sixteen (16) years of age.”

WHEN EVIL LURKS opens December 13 in Philippine cinemas, brought to us by CreaZion Studios.