there's little that's new in Bertino's Texas spooker, but an emotionally literate script and clever direction give it an edge; Bertino directs with such technical flair that I yelped at most of them - and half-missed the others, eyes squeezed tight shut
the horror is intrinsic to a family coping with grief and loss, but it's heightened to a horrifying degree thanks to Bertino's distinct style and his twisted vision of evil. It makes for a volatile, frightening viewing experience steeped in nihilism
the familial tension lying just below the surface, threatening to come to a head, anchors Bryan Bertino's film in an eerie and absorbing reality that serves as the perfect stage for the more shocking scares, especially the horrifying ending
Ireland's ability to deliver maximum emotion without falling into hammy gimmicks elevates the film; She's the kind of scream queen we need these days (emotive, real, deeply human) even if The Dark and the Wicked doesn't always rise up to meet her powers
deeply unsettling; The ambient sound design, disturbing musical score, disorienting visuals and subtle special effects add immeasurably to the overall impact, but it's Marin Ireland's shattering performance that truly gives the film its gripping power
Bryan Bertino's subtle horror fuses real-life situations of bereavement and loneliness with demonic invasion, instilling fear by suggestion and imagination
a frightening and emotionally fraught horror movie; Ambiguous and allusive, "The Dark and the Wicked" feels saturated in helpless misery and nerve-clanging dread
"The Dark and the Wicked" pulls no punches, either in its sense of perpetual unease, its occasional moments of understated yet truly stomach-churning gore, or in its emotional heft
"The Dark and the Wicked" is an impressively sustained freak-out; This supernatural fable elevates the subtext of Bryan Bertino’s earlier work to the level of text
"The Dark and the Wicked" doesn't follow the usual horror-movie rules. And that's a good thing; That randomness keeps the film from being predictable; It isn't exactly terrifying, but is well-acted and sinister enough to rise above the pack
by Meagan Navarro [Bloody Disgusting ]
by Chuck Bowen [Slant Magazine ]
