Written by Sara Carabini
Creepy doll figures are commonly seen in numerous horror films, but none are as intimidating as the life-sized wooden mannequin at the heart of Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy's Oddity. Instead of following a clearly defined genre pattern, McCarthy's second movie creates a uniquely internalized, ominous sense of foreboding that is unsettling rather than outright scary.
One year after his wife Dani (Carolyn Bracken) was brutally murdered during a home invasion at their remote home in southwestern Ireland, doctor Ted Timmis (Gwilym Lee) continues to reside there, not far from his job at a nearby psychiatric hospital. On the anniversary of Dani's death, attributed by the police to Ted's former patient Olin Boole (Tadhg Murphy), her twin sister Darcy (also portrayed by Bracken), a blind spiritual medium, unexpectedly arrives at the house, surprising Ted and his girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton). Darcy gives Ted a life-sized wooden mannequin from a large trunk, a family heirloom she wishes to pass on to him, causing Ted to react with unease at the peculiar figure.
Around this time in the movie, there is a noticeable change in tone as it transitions from a disturbing murder mystery to a sinister supernatural thriller. Despite Darcy mentioning to Ted early on that she can intuitively interpret people's personal belongings and see significant events from their past, the full extent of her paranormal powers remains uncertain. Nevertheless, it is evident that her psychic abilities, contrasting with Ted's logical medical mindset, deeply unsettle him.
Yana is unsettled when Ted leaves her alone with the blind clairvoyant at home. Soon after, she starts hearing odd sounds and believes she sees the mannequin moving from the trunk to the dining table. Darcy seems to be in a trance, but it's possible she is trying to bring the mannequin to life, as its head starts turning in a grotesque manner.
Yana, feeling frightened and desperate, calls Ted for assistance. However, she runs away before he can arrive, leaving him to confront Darcy. She reveals that her examination of a personal belonging of Boole's indicates that he did not kill Ted's wife before his own violent demise. This revelation intensifies the heated dispute between them regarding Dani's killer.
McCarthy's adaptation of his original screenplay is characterized by a commendable simplicity in both storytelling and writing style. By holding back on plot specifics, keeping the cast minimal, and confining the action to a few cramped settings, he enhances a growing sense of tension.
The diverse combination of horror elements from haunted-house, slasher, and paranormal sub-genres also keeps viewers unsettled, making it difficult to anticipate the film’s outcome. However, McCarthy's tendency to shift violence offscreen and reduce bloodshed tends to downplay significant plot advancements.
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