The Wretched (2019) Review – A Solid but Underdeveloped Teen Witch Horror

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are looking at the Netflix witch themed movie The Wretched.

A witch horror made for teens

Before we get started, have you already watched The Wretched and are confused by the ending? Well you are in luck as we have attempted to explain the ending in our The Wretched Ending Explained article. Why not go and check it out?

“This movie is very clearly aimed at a teen demographic. I mean, let’s be honest, us men are pretty damn annoying as teens. Who would want to spend 90 minutes watching one trying to save his family from a witch?”

The Wretched, directed by the Pierce brothers Brett and Drew Pierce, follows teenage boy Ben as he moves in with his Dad after his parents split. When looking outside one day, he spots what looks like a witch on the neighbour’s property. Obviously rather alarmed, Ben seeks to confirm his suspicions around what he thought he saw. This leads him into a web of mystery that reveals the legend of a creature in the woods that steals children. This prompts Ben to dig even deeper in order to protect the people around him.

This movie is very clearly aimed at a teen demographic. I mean, let’s be honest, us men are pretty damn annoying as teens. Who would want to spend 90 minutes watching one trying to save his family from a witch? Needless to say, that might be the first barrier to entry for older viewers.

This feels like a teen horror. The Wretched’s Ben (John-Paul Howard) isn’t a massively likable character, either. The movie attempts to portray him as a bit of an underdog but he spends far too much time looking utterly smug that to really land.

It’s actually fairly interesting if not a little underdeveloped

As a story, The Wretched is fairly compelling and it definitely puts a twist on the usual witch formula. This isn’t your typical old crone that rides a broomstick and shares a home with a black car, either. She appears to have a range of different abilities. She can control people, she’s a shapeshifter, and she has the ability to make people forget; this is something that becomes important to the plot.

The Wretched tries to do something different and generally succeeds in that aspect. The only problem is that we know little of the creature’s history and her need to kill is very poorly expanded on. I would love to have known more about her and had more opportunity to understand her motivation. This speaks to a bigger problem with The Wretched, however: lack of development.

“The Wretched is fairly compelling and it definitely puts a twist on the usual witch formula. This isn’t your typical old crone that rides a broomstick and shares a home with a black cat.”

The lack of development seems to haunt this movie more than the witch herself. Characters are not very fleshed out; motivations, back stories, and even personalities are fairly threadbare. The events of the movie are half baked and feel inconsequential. The actions of the witch are random and, seemingly, without reason. And even the drama elements keeping things together feel like an afterthought.

There are a number of events in the movie that seem pointless and contribute nothing other than extending the run time. This is a movie that wastes precious time that could have been better used to further develop the witch herself or even to introduce a few more scares; something which this movie is severely lacking in. There is one particularly scary scene, however. Trigger warning: two characters tongue kiss while one of them has a mouth full of toothpaste… Seriously, it is disgusting, thank God it is from a distance.

Some very dodgy editing

There are also a number of points during the movie where it would seem scenes were cut or shortened leading to transitions that feel random. There is a scene where Ben is driven back home from the place he works. He is chatting in the car one moment only for the next cut to show him in the house picking up a golf club after hearing only the slightest hint of a noise. Could we not have seen him enter the house and at least set the scene before throwing in some random escalation? It just feels a bit lazy.

“Lack of development seems to haunt this movie more than the witch herself. Characters are not very fleshed out; motivations, back stories, and even personalities are fairly threadbare.”

The lack of plot development leads to some plot holes and a few things that, when given the whole story in context, don’t really add up. I couldn’t help but wonder why, given the witch’s vast powers and range of abilities, she didn’t just use these powers to cut out the middle man and end the movie early. If you think too hard about it, the movie ends up making little sense. The final twist feels a bit tacked on, as well.

Sound production and lighting is another problem, too. This is a very dark movie that will strain your eyes. It’s only when people appear in shot that things brighten up a bit and even then it’s in the form of excessive lumens aimed directly at the character’s face.

Some good points

On the plus side, locations are fantastic. I really liked the practical effects in The Wretched, too. The witch appears in a number of different guises and all use practical effects and makeup. It seems as though a lot of the gore is practical effects too which actually leads to those scenes being more impactful. The directors do a good job of making the witch feel otherworldly, too. There is a shot of the witch naked (only rear nudity) and backlit by a window that was particularly freaky and impactful.

It’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of the violence is directed towards children. It can actually be quite graphic in parts as well. Keep that in mind if that is likely to upset you. Acting is generally fine. Characters are underdeveloped but the actors do what they can with the source material. Piper Curda (Mallory) and Zarah Mahler (Abbie) both stand out from the rest of the cast. There are a few comedy moments in the movie that lighten the mood a lot, too.

“If you are looking for a popcorn horror that you can switch your brain off and watch, The Wretched might just fill that niche. It’s not perfect but temper your expectations.”

There is a concerted effort to make this feel like an 80s summer horror. While I don’t think it works particularly well, some people will love this. Despite my complaints, I imagine the movie will appeal to people. There is nothing too deep and it’s a fairly inoffensive flick. It’s definitely a popcorn horror and probably fine to watch with a few friends. It probably fits when you just want to shut your brain off for awhile, too.

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