Ben, a rebellious teenage boy, suspects there is something wrong with his neighbor and investigates. The Wretched started off strong with fragments of stories: an 80’s era family killed with strange symbols, Ben moving in with his dad, and their neighbors being generally adorable. When things came together, the formula of the piece became clear and I was invested in what happened to all the characters except Ben, an insufferable teenager that I had very little patience for. The creature’s design and methods were unique, fun, and well done with a mixture of practical and digital effects. When I wasn’t rolling my eyes at Ben, I was having a good time with this spooky, squicky movie. It has vibes of Fright Night while setting itself apart with beginning that kept me guessing and a unique lore.
