Absence makes the heart grow fonder, especially when there is an absence of plot after watching a horror movie trailer. I watched a preview of Oddity weeks ago, and my interest was immediately peaked due to this exact phenomenon. How could a trailer be so compelling, yet leave me with such little knowledge of what is actually happening? I suppose this is due to an over saturation of modern movie trailers using the same drum bashing, brass stabbing formula that waters down every modern movie about to be released. Nevertheless, I was happily surprised going into this movie somewhat…blind.
Right off the bat I noticed this movie used texture and light to create a sense of age, yet still maintaining a modern sense of society. The majority of this film takes place inside a house that is dimly lit, with walls made of both stone and wood. There are even scenes lit entirely by either flashlight or lanterns carried slowly throughout the gloomy halls of this potentially haunted home.
Part of what made me appreciate the story so much was its use of the unknown, and I don’t just mean plot wise. The actors themselves are as unfamiliar as the plot, which is a great contributor towards realism and creating a believable atmosphere. Using well known actors tends to shrink the imagination, almost like watching a friend or family member perform in a local play. No matter how great a story, you are still of the mindset that you are watching a performance. With so much unknown about the story and the people on screen, your mind is subtly tricked into believability.
With such use of unfamiliar territory, the mystery of this plot creates a landscape that drew me in deeper as the movie progressed. Within this landscape there was also an abundance of silence that allowed scenes to breathe as needed. I don’t mean in the sense of certain A24 style movies, where there is just a lingering slow zoom shot of a tree in the distance. I mean there are moments walking through this house where you feel unsettled, as if anything could jump out at you. Which, there are moments these scares come to light, but they are well earned.
The silence used in this film reminded me of bands like Pink Floyd, who always knew what notes not to play, rather than trying to overload the music with endless fretboard wankery. In turn, this silence created a distrust between myself and the plot. Typically when Im half way into a movie like this, I can usually figure out where it’s headed. This was not the case, and I loved that.
With mentions of the occult seasoned throughout the story, and the use of such subtle mind-fuckery, I was pleasantly surprised with where this tale ended. While it’s certainly not a film I would consider re-watchable, it is without question a movie I would recommend to anyone seeking a solid ghost story.
