Itch! is a sci-fi horror movie that mixes old scares with new ones. An outbreak has led to a lockdown and martial law. After a botched robbery attempt, Jay finds himself locked in his father’s store with his daughter, the robbers, and a shopper. With no idea how long their situation is going to last, the group must find out how to find peace with each other–and themselves.
The film does an excellent job of relating to audiences. Old horror heads will recognize the set-up. Anyone old enough to remember back five years ago will understand the trauma of a lockdown. The low barrier of entry means the story and characters can carry Itch!
This is where some of the issues begin. While there is a frightening disease to contend with, the five break down and open up to each other way too quickly. It takes about a day. In a pre-Covid world, this may have worked. Since just about everyone watching this will have experienced their lives being affected by a sudden pandemic, the whole thing comes off as silly. This come have been solved with a bit of text at that says, “6 months later” or something to that effect.
This is a shame since Itch! is well casted. Some performance issues aside, everyone fits in their roles. They all come off as normal people trying to figure their way through extraordinary circumstances. There is a noticeable lack of urgency in some scenes, but nothing is ever so bad to turn the audience away.
The film excels in creating tension. Even before the plot kicks in, there are issues in Jay’s life that will lead to questions. Once the outbreak happens, the whole movie becomes an exercise in trust. The obvious answer is you cannot trust anyone, but the journey getting there is a gore filled one. The excellent ending will catch viewers off-guard.
Itch! is available now on Digital and VOD.
