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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Drew M

It's probably way too bleak for casual fans. But I absolutely love this film! This is a horror film that absolutely commits to trying to suffocate you in dread. It doesn't hit you with jump scares or gore much. And it doesn't try to ease any of the tension with humor---that can be depressing. So, I get why some fans didn't like it. But, if you want actual horror... this one nails it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Robert S

I must have seen a different movie than the one others have reviewed here with such glowing praise. This movie wasn’t the worst I’ve seen, but what a dreary, slow, lagubrious, gloomy slog. Not even a molecule of humor or lightheartedness, the kind of interaction real humans engage in even in the direst of circumstances. And after all that slow dreary slog, what the hell was the ending about? Is whatever entity responsible for all this, only capable of ambushing someone at the hour and 35 minute mark? Really oddball and difficult movie to enjoy.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

Full Review

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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: Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC), Inwood Road Films, Unbroken Pictures, Shotgun Shack 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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