They Wait in the Dark is a horror film that examines the cycle of abuse. Amy (Sarah McGuire, The Stylist) and her adopted son Adrian (Patrick McGee) are on the run from her abusive ex-girlfriend, Judith (Laurie Catherine Winkle, 2016’s MacGyver). Thankfully, Amy has a place where they can hide. Unfortunately, it is her childhood home where a supernatural force from the past begins haunting Adrian.
Initially, Amy is painted as a protagonist who has managed to escape from a difficult relationship. As They Wait in the Dark progresses, flashbacks reveal her trauma goes back to her childhood. Abuse has been something she has been forced to live with her entire life and as Amy spends more time alone with Adrian, she seems to be continuing the pattern with him.
Writer-director Patrick Rea (I Am Lisa) constantly subverts audience expectations. The film constantly moves between outright horror and more calculated thriller keeping anyone watching unsure as to what is going to happen next. This is seen most with the character of Amy who goes from sympathetic hero to someone who is completely untrustworthy. They Wait in the Dark may sound bloated, but Rea expertly creates layers, making for a patient and frightening watch.
The final act is a testament to how well written They Wait in the Dark is. The movie is a patient one that says as much in its quieter moments as the most violent. It will be a difficult watch for many as more is revealed, but the ending is a satisfying one that leaves some hope.
They Wait in the Dark is available digitally February 7
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