When Evil Possesses: A Look at “When Evil Lurks”
In the remote Argentinian countryside, brothers Pedro (Ezequiel Rodriguez) and Jimi (Demián Salomón), two farmers, stumble upon a horrifying secret: their neighbor’s house is harboring Uriel (Gonzalo Galarza), a man consumed by a demonic force, rotting away for nearly a year. Desperate, they seek help from Ruiz (Luis Ziembrowski), a wealthy landowner. While tales of possession have circulated in these parts, they’ve faded into the realm of folklore, dismissed as old wives’ tales. But Uriel’s presence is undeniable, causing crop failures and unsettling the livestock. The exorcist, known locally as a “cleaner,” who was meant to deal with Uriel, has been brutally killed by infected animals. Pedro, Jimi, and Ruiz decide to move Uriel far from their homes, but they soon find out that they can’t escape the evil.
Gonzalo Galarza as Uriel in “When Evil Lurks”
Argentinian director Demián Rugna continues to solidify his place in the horror genre. In his previous work, “Terrified,” he explored paranormal events in a suburban neighborhood. Now, in “When Evil Lurks,” Rugna masterfully builds upon his previous successes. The devil manifests as a demonic entity, spreading like a virus, taking over human bodies. This time, the target isn’t a city suburb but a cluster of neighboring farms.
“When Evil Lurks” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and later won the Best Motion Picture award at the Sitges Film Festival. It’s also the first Spanish-language project produced by the horror streaming platform Shudder.
Demián Salomón as Jimi in “When Evil Lurks”
Rugna throws viewers into the deep end, foregoing lengthy exposition. From the start, unsettling events unfold, gradually revealing the rules of this terrifying world. Years ago, the devil plagued the Argentinian countryside, only to be driven out by “cleaners” equipped with seemingly medieval tools. The locals have learned certain rules that might offer some protection: never kill the possessed with a gunshot, as it risks infection; never utter the name of Satan lightly; electric light attracts the possessed; and never touch the belongings of someone consumed by a demon. The farmer brothers know the rules, but, like Ruiz, they don’t want to believe in the apocalypse. All that’s left is to run and find a cleaner.
The Horrors of Possession
“When Evil Lurks” is particularly effective in its depiction of the grotesque physical manifestations of possession. Uriel, the first infected individual we see, is a bloated, oozing mass of skin, covered in festering sores. Rugna draws a clear parallel between demonic possession and the spread of a dangerous infectious disease, replacing religious fervor with revolting boils and swellings that are deeply unsettling.
Still from “When Evil Lurks”
Initially, Ruiz dismisses Pedro and Jimi’s claims, suspecting a government ploy to seize their land. This sets the stage for the film’s themes: the locals are on their own, abandoned by greedy authorities. The film also draws parallels to the recent coronavirus pandemic, where governments were slow to respond, leaving local communities to fend for themselves. Another interpretation is economic. Argentina is a country with annual inflation exceeding 100%, so people are left to their own devices and forced to fend for themselves in a crisis.
Promotional image for “When Evil Lurks”
The Root of Evil
The film doesn’t delve deeply into the reasons behind the demon’s emergence. While the Argentinian farmers may be flawed, their lack of faith isn’t unique. Instead, it seems to be a genre convention – Rugna wanted to depict the spread of possession in a close-knit rural community, amplifying the horror of the catastrophe.
“When Evil Lurks” is a surprising horror film. The events unfold so quickly. The hour and a half flies by, and since viewers don’t initially understand all the details of what’s happening on screen, it’s also a completely unpredictable spectacle. Rugna’s film isn’t scary with jump scares, it’s a horror film about the ordinariness of evil, the hopelessness of terrible events, but with disgusting scenes of physical decomposition of flesh.
What do you do when demons come and the exorcists have been killed? The Argentinian horror film answers effectively.