Oddity is a blend of horror and thriller-that is constantly omnipresent with an air of disquiet and unease. The Irish/ US production features truly authentic/ bone chilling moments of jarring fear and troubling horror- standing as one of the more original/ distinctive genre films in recent memory, using genre tropes in both an interesting & creative manner. Here from Acorn Media International is an new Blu Ray release.

Oddity is a 2024 film written and directed by Damian Mc Carthy- this is his second feature feature-length film- his first feature was 2020 dread deep horror-thriller Caveat, which I reviewed at time of release & highly enjoyed.   Before this he helmed six shorts, the first of these been 2009’s Hatch- which found a man laying an egg in the bath, he takes it to a bar where it begins to behave strangely.

The film opens with Dani (Carolyn Bracken) seemingly been murdered off camera in the isolated country house she has recently moved into.  She is married to stern/ if seemingly carrying psychiatrist Ted (Gwilym Lee)- and it’s one of his patients who gets put away for the crime.

Her twin sister, Darcy- also played by Carolyn Bracken- is a blind clairvoyant, who runs a shop selling cursed objects. she’s sure there is something more to the case of her sister’s death- so on the anniversary of her sister death, she heads for the couple’s house with a full-sized wooden man doll.   And this is about all I can tell you plot wise- so as not to spoil the surprising reveals and clever/devilish plot twists.

The small cast is perfectly picked.  Bracken really looks completely different as each twin- for Dani she has long flowing/ crimped brunette hair, and Darcy has short blonde pixie like haircut- having a completely different persona for each. With special mentions going to creepy one false-eyed patient Olin Boole (Tadhg Murphy), and sleazy ‘n’ uneasy medic Ivan (Steven Hall).

The films key location is Bantry House, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland- this is utilized very well with use of shadow, sparse lighting, and subtle movements in near dark. From the off there is a feeling of dread & creepy unease which Mc Carthy cultivates as the film unfolds- with along the way some truly jump out of your seat moments, as well as later a few moments of bloody violence.

On the extras side we get a few interesting/ if short things. Storyboard-to-screen-featurette (3.18) this show one of the films early scenes. Behind the scenes (4.40) taking in interviews with director Damian Mc Carthy, cast, and crew. Making Of Wooden Man- gallery of the building/ development of the live sized wooden man in the film.

Oddity is a perfectly realized mix of horror and thriller genres- bringing together unease/ true fear, with a clever and taut plotting. It is such a pity this didn’t get a full/ proper cinema release- as it stands head and shoulders above most of the horror films released on the big screen, with some great original ideas, a well/ even paced structure, and sensible/ effective runtime of just over one and half hour’s runtime. A must, must see!..and if I'd seen it sooner it would have definitely made my best of 2024 list.