As we’re entering the last few days of October and Halloween scares are in full swing, it’s nice to start the wind down to November with some slow-burn dread. Dripping in atmosphere is psychological, supernatural horror film It Hunts. And just as the title implies, something is after our main character, and he has absolutely everything to lose.
An aimless nightcrawler races to unravel the mystery of the supernatural entity hunting him.
It Hunts, IMDB
Casey (Izzy Martinez) works nights, something his girlfriend Alex (Katlin Svadbik) doesn’t particularly like. That, plus his past health habits like drinking and smoking have him constantly on edge. He’s a good guy, he just has his issues and past traumas — ones that boil over and cause him to become paranoid and hallucinate. Seeking professional help doesn’t work either, and the more he tries to subdue the scares, they just keep getting worse. Something feels off, like there is a presence after him. And to stop that thing from coming for his life, Casey has to resort to drastic measures.
Right off the bat, It Hunts joins the other horror films where the paranormal and psychological are one in the same. The demons hunting Casey are an easy stand-in for substance abuse and relationship issues. In It Hunts, though, the paranormal elements do stand out as being real, as opposed to a figment of his imagination.
A slow burn, It Hunts drags slightly in the middle, but is punctuated by a strong beginning and end. There is a lot of dialogue to get through, but the tense moments are done well with smooth effects and emotional acting that made me really feel for this couple. It Hunts is atmospheric, choosing to rely more heavily on lighting and shot composition to fill the screen with dread and intensity. I’m always a fan of some white-out contacts and red-blue fill lights. It Hunts was happy to oblige!
I wouldn’t say that It Hunts is a movie you would put on for scares with your friends. It’s thought provoking in a way that make you think about your own relationship with your mental health, and the weight that others carry trying to love you despite it. It Hunts doesn’t lack the scares, they’re just more subdued and quiet. What this film does do for sure is give you a couple who will fight for their life together, and a painful reminder of one’s ghostly past coming back to haunt them.
It Hunts is available to rent or purchase now on Prime Video. Follow writer/director Gabriel Black in Instagram for more.
