The Evil Within (2017) - April 4th, 2017 - Blu-ray Forum

Splatterpunk · 06-25-2019, 12:34 PM

Writer/director Andrew Getty’s THE EVIL WITHIN from 2017 demands some discussion of its background. Getty, an heir of the wealthy American oil barons, began the project in 2002. Financed out of his own pocket, shot around his own mansion and LA in fits and starts over the course of thirteen years, and completed and released two years after Getty’s death from drug related complications, the film is obviously a passion project made outside the realm of traditional indy film mechanisms. Unpolished and amateurish, the piece nevertheless benefits from some established actors, a palpable determination, genuinely effective effects work, and authentically creepy imagery. The resulting mix feels like a singular piece of outsider art, even if certain aspects of the film don’t land at all and the overall experience is uneven.

Veteran TV actor Frederick Koehler plays the intellectually disabled Dennis. Dependent on his brother John (Sean Patrick Flanery), their relationship is mostly amicable. However, it does put some strain on John’s relationship with his ready-to-settle-down girlfriend Lydia (Dina Meyer). There’s a secret that festers between the seemingly normal brothers, though, and it’s potentially the source of worsening mental illness in Dennis. Then again, maybe the sinister being known as Cadaver (genre icon Michael Berryman) from his nightmares is truly a supernatural entity. Either way, Cadaver’s grip on Dennis’ mind tightens as the disturbed young man is convinced that killing will free him of his anguish. Meanwhile, John dodges matrimonial overtures as he tries to avoid putting his sibling in a state hospital.

Let’s talk about what doesn’t work first. Getty’s script was never going to win any awards. It leans heavily on narration during the opening and is overly wordy, in general. It admittedly brings a certain literary element to the proceedings but it negatively impacts the pacing. It’s only 98 minutes, though, so it doesn’t exactly get bogged down, just flattened and disjointed. A few plotlines also seem unfinished or less fleshed out than they should be, possibly a result of the extended production timeline or of Getty’s inability to finish the piece before his death. I’ve also seen some criticism of the presentation of Dennis’ disability. I didn’t necessarily find it to be disrespectful on its surface, but I think this perception may arise from our current sensitivities about identity. I won’t judge that point in either direction, but I think the nature of the role required a non-disabled performer.

The film has a certain homemade feel to it. What I mean is, it feels like something a bunch of fans would make in their backyard, except in this case Getty had millions of dollars at his disposal and could therefore afford a few “big” names and slick effects work. Some may view this as a negative, but it’s absolutely a positive for me and contributes to the unique atmosphere. Speaking of performances, everyone turns in respectable work. Meyer unfortunately doesn’t get a lot to do but her storyline is one that feels circumscribed. Beloved character actor Matthew McGrory has a cameo in what ended up being his final role. The true strength of the film lies in its surrealistic imagery. Eerie, disturbing, and ambiguous, Getty invokes the horrors of the unconscious mind evocatively and is able to intermittently conjure a suffocating atmosphere. A particular point of excellence is the creepy puppetry. Pulling inspiration from his struggles with his own demons, as well as the infamous Son of Sam murders, there’s a very personal feel to the filmmaking.

Deeply flawed, but also legitimately disturbing, Andrew Getty’s THE EVIL WITHIN is worth a watch even though it feels incomplete. I was fascinated by the details of its production and I knew I’d be able to appreciate the final product no matter the problems. I may be too forgiving, but the effects work and mood are worthy of genuine praise. If you’re interested in viewing it, I highly recommend reading a bit about the production before giving it a spin. Recommended, with caveats, for fans of HELLRAISER, LOST HIGHWAY, and DONNIE DARKO.

06-25-2019, 12:34 PM	#1
Splatterpunk Senior Member Member since:Jan 2013 Location:Past them treeeeeeeeees. 4K collection:316 Blu-ray collection:1453 DVD collection:986	The Evil Within (2017) - April 4th, 2017 Writer/director Andrew Getty’s THE EVIL WITHIN from 2017 demands some discussion of its background. Getty, an heir of the wealthy American oil barons, began the project in 2002. Financed out of his own pocket, shot around his own mansion and LA in fits and starts over the course of thirteen years, and completed and released two years after Getty’s death from drug related complications, the film is obviously a passion project made outside the realm of traditional indy film mechanisms. Unpolished and amateurish, the piece nevertheless benefits from some established actors, a palpable determination, genuinely effective effects work, and authentically creepy imagery. The resulting mix feels like a singular piece of outsider art, even if certain aspects of the film don’t land at all and the overall experience is uneven. Veteran TV actor Frederick Koehler plays the intellectually disabled Dennis. Dependent on his brother John (Sean Patrick Flanery), their relationship is mostly amicable. However, it does put some strain on John’s relationship with his ready-to-settle-down girlfriend Lydia (Dina Meyer). There’s a secret that festers between the seemingly normal brothers, though, and it’s potentially the source of worsening mental illness in Dennis. Then again, maybe the sinister being known as Cadaver (genre icon Michael Berryman) from his nightmares is truly a supernatural entity. Either way, Cadaver’s grip on Dennis’ mind tightens as the disturbed young man is convinced that killing will free him of his anguish. Meanwhile, John dodges matrimonial overtures as he tries to avoid putting his sibling in a state hospital. Let’s talk about what doesn’t work first. Getty’s script was never going to win any awards. It leans heavily on narration during the opening and is overly wordy, in general. It admittedly brings a certain literary element to the proceedings but it negatively impacts the pacing. It’s only 98 minutes, though, so it doesn’t exactly get bogged down, just flattened and disjointed. A few plotlines also seem unfinished or less fleshed out than they should be, possibly a result of the extended production timeline or of Getty’s inability to finish the piece before his death. I’ve also seen some criticism of the presentation of Dennis’ disability. I didn’t necessarily find it to be disrespectful on its surface, but I think this perception may arise from our current sensitivities about identity. I won’t judge that point in either direction, but I think the nature of the role required a non-disabled performer. The film has a certain homemade feel to it. What I mean is, it feels like something a bunch of fans would make in their backyard, except in this case Getty had millions of dollars at his disposal and could therefore afford a few “big” names and slick effects work. Some may view this as a negative, but it’s absolutely a positive for me and contributes to the unique atmosphere. Speaking of performances, everyone turns in respectable work. Meyer unfortunately doesn’t get a lot to do but her storyline is one that feels circumscribed. Beloved character actor Matthew McGrory has a cameo in what ended up being his final role. The true strength of the film lies in its surrealistic imagery. Eerie, disturbing, and ambiguous, Getty invokes the horrors of the unconscious mind evocatively and is able to intermittently conjure a suffocating atmosphere. A particular point of excellence is the creepy puppetry. Pulling inspiration from his struggles with his own demons, as well as the infamous Son of Sam murders, there’s a very personal feel to the filmmaking. Deeply flawed, but also legitimately disturbing, Andrew Getty’s THE EVIL WITHIN is worth a watch even though it feels incomplete. I was fascinated by the details of its production and I knew I’d be able to appreciate the final product no matter the problems. I may be too forgiving, but the effects work and mood are worthy of genuine praise. If you’re interested in viewing it, I highly recommend reading a bit about the production before giving it a spin. Recommended, with caveats, for fans of HELLRAISER, LOST HIGHWAY, and DONNIE DARKO.

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