Part of the pleasure of “Oddity” lies in its simplicity. When you get right down to it, this is just a good old fashioned scary movie, and there’s something refreshing about that. I’m not saying Mc Carthy’s script is dumbed-down or overly simple; it’s just that it seems to have one real goal, and that goal is to give you the creeps. There are no loftier ambitions here, and that’s part of the charm. Mc Carthy builds tension through long, quiet moments. He unleashes jumpscares that never feel cheap or lazy. “Oddity” is scary in a way that’s fun — and when was the last time you had fun with a horror movie? I love horror — it’s my favorite genre. But it can be a dour, serious affair. There’s nothing wrong with that, mind you. In fact, some horror stories require that sort of uber-seriousness; it’s part of their DNA. But sometimes, you just want to have a good time. To get creeped out in delicious, satisfying, even rewarding ways. Not every horror pic needs to be steeped in existential dread, that’s all I’m saying.
A year after Dani’s death, Ted has seemingly moved on, and is now living with his new girlfriend, Yana (Caroline Menton). And then on the anniversary of the death itself, Darcy comes calling. Ted had previously popped around to Darcy’s shop and vaguely extended an invitation to his dead wife’s sister, assuming she wouldn’t take him up on the offer. But that’s exactly what Darcy does, bringing a large wooden trunk along with her. Within the trunk is what Darcy calls a gift — a life-sized wooden man with a perpetual scream carved into its face, and holes in the back of its skull like a bowling ball.
Darcy’s arrival is immediately awkward, and just to make things even more uncomfortable, Ted has to leave for work. Ted and Yana try to make it clear that Darcy should go; that it’s an inconvenient time. Instead, Darcy, who has a curt, cold manner about her, makes it clear she’d like to stay. Eventually, Ted heads to the asylum. Yana plans on leaving, too — but her keys go missing, and she finds herself stuck in the house with Darcy … and that creepy wooden doll. And it’s getting dark outside.
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