Director Isaac Ezban (The Similars, The Incident) departs from his usual exploration of science fiction to deliver his first full horror feature, Evil Eye (Mal de Ojo). Ezban uses his sci-fi origins as an entry point into a horror fairy tale that blends Dominican myth and Mexican folklore with modern sensibilities for an emotionally charged, witchy story full of blood.
Parents Rebecca (Samantha Castillo) and Guillermo (Arap Bethke) grow increasingly worried over sickly young daughter Luna (Ivanna Sofia Ferro), who’s becoming increasingly resistant to treatment for her illness. They pack her up along with neglected older sibling Nala (Paola Miguel) and head to the countryside. The parents leave their children behind with Grandma Josefa (Ofelia Medina) as they head back to the city, searching for cures beyond conventional medicine. But Nala and Luna have never been to the countryside, nor have they ever met their strict grandmother. After Josefa’s housemaid Abigail (Paloma Alvamar) tells the sisters a haunting bedtime story about a witch, Nala believes witchcraft is to blame for Josefa’s eerie behavior.
So much rests on young Miguel’s shoulders in this dark horror fairy tale. Her Nala begins the story as an angry 13-year-old harboring severe resentment toward her mother. Luna’s illness dominates the family life; everything they do revolves around it and finding a cure. That anger only festers once the girls are left alone in a strange place with an even stranger relative. Nala finds herself frequently at odds with the authoritative Josefa, both combatant and headstrong. Luna is the sole exception to the wrath; Nala has a fierce protective streak regarding her younger sister. It’s the emotional throughline that anchors an emotionally charged story. Miguel possesses remarkable range and depth that carries viewers on Nala’s harrowing journey.
There’s an adult approach to the horror in this dark fairy tale, with practical effects-driven creatures and skinless witches. Ezban, who co-wrote with Junior Rosario and Edgar San Juan, introduces nightmarish visions of the Bacá and black magic rituals in the woods. He doles the supernatural elements out slowly, though, retaining a sense of mystery that lets the tension build. Is Nala’s imagination running wild? Or the more prominent question; could these characters live happily ever after once all the blood is spilled, and the truth gets revealed? The pervading sense of dread indicates that the grim origins of fairy tales are alive and well here.
While Evil Eye does conclude its fairy tale elements in a satisfying, violent fashion, it’s not the case across the board. Nala’s ongoing friction with her mother doesn’t get explored as fully as it should for being such a focal point in the first act. It plays a role in the finale, but it’s an uneven, underdeveloped road getting there. Similarly, Nala’s dad winds up more of a peripheral character without a whole lot of agency or presence in the narrative.
Despite the slighter aspects of the story, Ezban’s first foray into horror makes for an atmospheric trip into grotesque witchcraft. This intimidating granny makes for a worthy adversary, and the life lessons she imparts to the youthful leads come with a high cost. Nala’s modern lifestyle clashing with rural practices and folklore creates an interesting contrast bolstered by the horror imagery. It’s all anchored by a remarkable lead performance by Miguel, culminating in a bewitching coming-of-age folktale.
Evil Eye (Mal de Ojo) made its International Premiere at Fantastic Fest. Release info TBD.
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