The Dark and the Wicked

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The Dark and the Wicked

Released Nov 6, 2020

1h 34m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

90%

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104 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Plagued by waking nightmares, two siblings suspect that something evil is taking over their family at an isolated farmhouse.

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Critics Consensus

The Dark and the Wicked delivers on its title with an unsettling horror story whose deep dread and bleak outlook further compound its effective jolts.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Steady interlacing of generational resentment with supernatural menace-each feeding, zombie-like, off the other-gives The Dark and the Wicked a subtext that's almost strong enough to offset its largely generic scares.

May 3, 2021

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

There is possibly not a single scary moment here that will be new to horror fans, but Bertino directs with such technical flair that I yelped at most of them - and half-missed the others, eyes squeezed tight shut.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 24, 2021

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Becca James

Chicago Reader

The Dark and the Wicked is a relentless ride through the stages of grief and guilt.

Feb 17, 2021

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Paul Lê

Nightmare on Film Street

What Bertino ultimately delivers is a time capsular movie with an enduring, if not routine, story.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 23, 2023

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Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

I can't think of another American film propelled by such razor-sharp and hopeless fatalism, but there will be more.

Sep 10, 2021

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Audrey Fox

JumpCut Online

Relentless and brutal, The Dark and the Wicked builds a pervasive sense of dread that reaches almost unbearable peaks in its torment of the estranged, emotionally repressed family featured within.

Aug 28, 2021

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David

This was absolutely a hidden gem for horror movies. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I havent seen a great horror picture like this in a while.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/20

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Paul A

Evil, despair, shadow. Ugh. Scary film in a deeply wicked way. Not your run of the mill horror film. Wow impressive.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/20

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Diego

No point o the movie this is literally trash I’m sorry

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/20

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Molly V

Loved it! Creepy and very well done horror film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/20

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Dan H

I cannot endorse the extremely positive reviews this film has. It is crammed full of horror cliches and there's no payoff, no explanation, no way out (if you leave - you die, and seemingly if you stay - you die). I don't enjoy horror/thrillers where the characters have no actual agency to resist evil at all. I enjoyed the brother and sister characters, but I really wanted more from Micheal. Unfortunately, there's far too much repetition in this film: something happens near the goats, something happens at night, someone ends their life, some weird person visits, and either the brother or the sister have a full-blown ghost/spirit/visual hallucination. And then it repeats over again adding nothing new because there's no mystery to uncover. We never know why the devil is coming for their dad. Then the devil comes and there's nothing that can stop him. The film is over. We've learned nothing. I assume everyone is dead. Why?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

Full Review

paiN F

The Dark and the Wicked is a well-produced horror film with striking cinematography and an ominous atmosphere that sets the stage for a story of dread. Unfortunately, despite its technical polish and moments of genuine creepiness, it fails to deliver anything groundbreaking for seasoned horror fans. Some of the jump scares hit their mark, and certain scenes veer dangerously close to the unsettling brilliance of Hereditary. However, these moments are too few and far between, leaving the rest of the film feeling monotonous. The narrative, though steeped in despair, drags without offering enough payoff, making it hard to stay invested. For horror enthusiasts, the scares feel recycled—there’s little here that hasn’t been done before, and better, in other films. While it’s far from a disaster and offers a visually rich experience, The Dark and the Wicked ends up being a near-miss. If you’re not already a fan of atmospheric horror, it might even feel skippable. Verdict: Worth a watch for the aesthetic, but don’t expect anything you haven’t seen before.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

Full Review

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Bryan Bertino

Director

Marin Ireland

Louise

Michael Abbott Jr.

Michael

Xander Berkeley

Priest

Lynn Andrews

Nurse

Julie Oliver-Touchstone

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The Dark and the Wicked: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Plagued by waking nightmares, two siblings suspect that something evil is taking over their family at an isolated farmhouse.

Director: Bryan Bertino
Producer: Bryan Bertino, Adrienne Biddle, Sonny Mallhi, Kevin Matusow
Screenwriter: Bryan Bertino
Distributor: Shudder
Production Co: Inwood Road Films, Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC), Shotgun Shack Pictures, Unbroken Pictures
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $157.0K
Runtime: 1h 34m

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