The Evil Within

WARNING SPOILERS!!! THE EVIL WITHIN (2016) is one of those films with a troubled production history, but that doesn't mean it is a bad film. Production of the film began in 2002, but was plagued by many delays including: funding issues, conflicts with cast, and a lawsuit from a studio assistant. After many stops and starts to the production, filming was completed in 2008. Director/screenwriter Andrew Getty (The grandson of billionaire Jean Paul Getty) began obsessing over the final edit of the film and spent many years working to perfect it, but he unfortunately died in 2015 (due to a hemorrhaging ulcer caused by his ongoing methamphetamine addiction). before it could be completed. Producer Michael Luceri, who had also assisted with the editing, finished the film. It opens with Dennis (Frederick Koehler, a very familiar face and under-rated actor on TV and films, such as DEATH RACE - 2008 and it's first two DTV sequels - 2010 & 2013, with another one on the way in 2018) narrating his dreams in a very inventive sequence (One where Michael Berryman; [THE HILLS HAVE EYES - 1977] unzips Dennis' back, does something and zips it back up) that will bound to make you rewind the DVD (especially when his mother takes off her sunglasses), ending with him looking in a full length antique mirror. We then see Dennis in real life having a picnic on his birthday with his brother John (Sean Patrick Flanery; DEMON HUNTER - 2005) and John's girlfriend Lydia (Dina Meyer; SAW I, II, III & IV - [2004 - 2007]). It is obvious Dennis is slightly mentally impaired, but when John gives him the mirror from his dreams for his birthday (He tells Dennis he found it in a "Prohibition Vault"), Dennis doesn't want it because it is evil. John tries to talk him out of it, but Dennis screams for him to stop using "fifty cent words". The mirror is actually evil and begins to affect Dennis' dreams. Dennis begins to talk to himself in the mirror and sees things he would rather not see (Like Berryman biting off the tips of his fingers, revealing his fingertip bones and then slitting Dennis' throat). Dennis' reflection talks him into doing many things. like killing the neighbor's cat and putting it in a cooler. (His reflection tells him he is holding a new paint brush). John become suspicious when he notices that Dennis has VHS tapes (showing its 2002 roots) on taxidermy, forensics and other subjects (later on it changes from VHS tapes to books) Dennis should not be interested in and wonder what Dennis is building in the basement since Dennis was never interested in carpentry (Dennis tells John he will show him what he is doing in a couple of days). Dennis is watching a Documentary on venomous spiders when the narrator says "you f***ing re***d!" and a giant spider climbs on Dennis and sucks him dry until he is nothing but a shriveled corpse. It was all a dream, of course, until Berryman (Billed as the "Cadaver") tells him through the mirror that he will make all of it stop if he does him a favor: Kill a child. Dennis kills a young boy on a swing and puts him in a wooden chest. He sees himself in the mirror as not being mentally impaired and his non-impaired reflection tells him that all the things he sees in his dreams are being whispered in his ear by him because where he is is very dark. Dennis' reflection tells him as long as he is done what he is told, he can come live where he is and his reflection can come into the real world. His reflection convinces Dennis to become a serial killer and his first intended victim is the girl at the counter of the local ice cream parlor, Susan (Brianna Brown; NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 3D - 2006), who Dennis has a crush on. Dennis scares the crap out of Susan and she runs out into the path of an oncoming car and is killed (The whole scene is very well done and has the feel of a nightmare). Meanwhile John asks Lydia to marry him, but he finds out Lydia may be cheating on him. Trying to describe the rest of the film is just like trying to make sense of a nightmare. It is indescribable, but it is also very watchable. Frederick Koehler is a revelation here, managing to make you believe he is both impaired and normal at the same time. This is also one of those films where there is always something going on in the background, so this is not a film you want to put on while vacuuming your living room. This film demands all your attention. In other words, a film that everyone should admire. This is as close to a filmed nightmare as you can get. It doesn't surprise me that director Andrew Getty had a methamphetamine addiction that killed him because this is an extremely frenetic film with visuals that defy description (like Dennis' restaurant that he built downstairs where an animatronic clown sings and an octopus plays the drums!). John also seems to be having psychiatric problems, as we see him talking to his psychiatrist, Dr. Preston (Francis Guinan) on several occasions (We find out that John pushed "prodigy" Dennis down a flight of stairs when they were children, permanently damaging Dennis' brain), and it has forever bothered him since it happened, making him as dependent on Dennis as Dennis is dependent on him. John and Lydia go through a "Twilight Zone-ish" experience. (There is a strange scene where John and Lydia are at a restaurant and can't get anyone to acknowledge them. John confronts one guy and acts tough, but it turns out to be a giant of a man who looks somewhat like Rhondo Hatton (Matthew McGrory of HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES - 2003 and THE DEVIL'S REJECTS - 2005, who passed away in 2005, once again a reminder of the film's troubled production history) Unfortunately, Michael Berryman has very few scenes in this film (he is prominently displayed on the DVD Sleeve). But there are a lot of indescribable scenes here (especially what happens to Lydia and the ending, which can politely be said to be insane). If you like films that make you feel creeped out, I can honestly say that this film is the one you should watch. And in case you were wondering: Yes, there is some blood, gore and female nudity, but this film is mostly about the surreal visuals and the nudity is in no way titillating. One of the best DTV films I have seen in a while. Look for Kim Darby (DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK - 1973) in a quick cameo as a female police officer.

Not much to say besides a couple things. I agree that the outside world portion of the movie is a bit lacking. There are different possible theories as to why it might be the way it was but I'll leave you to it. Frederick Koehler really went all in on this one. Possible spoiler: What impressed me was his ability to switch back and forth between personalities. This is most apparent during the scenes when the main character is crying and he switches to the evil reflection who is not crying and back again. Camera angles are pretty cool. I liked the one where the main character is laying on the floor with the mirror above him and begins talking to the evil pushing the mirror up and down for each moment. It gets a bit too bizarre near the end and stops making as much sense, at least to me. Would watch it again for sure.

I actually really enjoyed this film, not because it was overly scary, though it did have its moments of unsettling creepiness, and tone. But my hat is off in a 5 star praise for two major reasons. One, the story telling is absolutely original, although there will be some familiar moments similar to other movies, the story as a whole is completely its own. The second, is the main characters acting ability, the main character if you haven't guessed from the trailer is a mental disabled main, and having worked personal myself with many mentally impaired individuals in my life, the actor does a phenomenal job portraying someone with a handicap. It is done in a way which seems both authentic and as strange as it may sound (especially if you have viewed the movie) respectful.Now this movie didn't blow me away by any means, but, even with that said, I felt that my money to rent it was well spent, and it is certainly a movie that I will be watching again sooner rather then later.As an overview, the movie does have some pretty jarring gore, in some spots, so if you cant handle some body horror then I would say watch but be prepared for it. The movie isn't exactly frightening or scary really, but is very unsettling and creepy, and it sticks throughout. My only caveat is that the movie could have been served by better atmosphere throughout, many of the scenes are either at night, in a lighted bedroom, or home, or in broad daylight. I really feel that the movie would have been MUCH creepier, and more engrossing, if we had a atmosphere of dreariness, or rain to go with the changing of the mood and tone of the tale as it went on. This could have been a budget issue, but, I think honestly if the atmosphere fit the story throughout the film better, this would have been easily a 5 star movie for me.overall I recommend the film, if you are a fan of horror movies, I think at the very least you will be entertained, and for the most part pleased.

I read some reviews and had high expectations from this movie before buying, and even when it wasn't so impressive I still think is unique and a good horror movie, not bad good. The story is around a young man with mental disability, his brother and the brother's girlfriend and the drama of they trying to live together. One day the brother bring some antique mirror and the young man starts hearing voices and dream about an evil entity living in the mirror that tries to corrupt his mind. The movie reminds me of other dark stories with creepy visuals like Candyman, Jacobs Ladder, Society and early 90s horror, I liked how mixes reality and fantasy to the point you don't know which is which. And the most important thing is the practical effects, the use of make up, stop motion and camera tricks is awesome and achieve some realistic or creepy images, not all them thought , some scenes look like clay cartoons but they made a good work and I remember that took a lot of years to finish the movie. I recommend this movie for horror fans that like every sub-genre and people that likes psychological thrillers.

Exraordinary horror film. Imperfect, but it aspires to more than most films ever do. Wholly unique and the product of a talented auteur who, had he lived, would have made indelible marks on the horror world. As it is, thia film will become a cult classic.

No me sirvió porque no tiene subtítulos en español.

It was perfect Fit the device great

Very strange. Not sure I like that one