They Wait in the Dark

“They Wait in the Dark” is an American horror-thriller film released in 2022 and directed Patrick Rea. The film intertwines aspects of abuse, trauma, and the supernatural with a fantasy plot that invokes feelings that are deeply horrid.

Plot Summary

The central plot revolves around Amy( Sarah McGuire) and her son Adrian( Patrick McGee) who had to run away from Judith( Laurie Catherine Winkel), Amy’s ex-girlfriend who’s an abusive narcissist. Looking for a place to stay, they drive to Amy’s old family farm house which seems to be abandoned. There is, however, a supernatural evil that has been stalking Amy. As Judith gets closer to them, both Amy and Adrian are forced to face spiritual as well as physical foes.

Main Characters

• Amy (Sarah McGuire)- A mother who is strong and protective of her child but is also emotional because of her past.
• Adrian (Patrick McGee) – The son of Amy who is fiercly protected and cared for, but at the same time is a victim of other-wordly hauntings.
• Judith (Laurie Catherine Winkel)- Abusive ex-girlfriend of Amy.

Theme and Analysis

The movie focuses on abuse in a singular, simplistic nature and its consequences. With the character of a mother both nurturing and malevolent supplemented by unnarmingly strong female influenced figures in her life make the film deeply captivating and relatable.

The narrative combines real-life horrors and supernatural features, underscoring how far a trauma can go to try and manifest itself.

Reception

The reviews have been divided. Heaven of Horror awarded the film a score of 3 out of 5, explaining that although the performances were strong, there could have been some improvements made for a more impactful twist. Film Festival Today noted the long buildup and the impressive third act of the film with the balance between real world evil and the supernatural while highlighting the character development over the course of the whole film.

The film has a 94% approval rating on rotten tomatoes based on 16 reviews, signifying positive comments overall.

Trailer

Below is the link to the official trailer for an insight on the dark tension created in the film “They wait in the dark.”

The film “They Wait in the Dark” delves into the bewildering and frightening depths of past trauma and a loved one’s protection, crossing boundaries of psychology and supernatural horror.