The Wicked (2013)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Don't Believe the Hype

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This reminds me very much of the Nancy Drew television series from the late 1970's, but with a sprinkling of sporadic gore. Panic sets in in a small town when a little girl is taken from her bed late one night. Legends of a witch (Cassie Keller) living in the woods abound, so it probably isn't wise to go searching for that very house – especially if you're 'a group of friends' who think it might be a good idea to throw stones through the windows.The teenage ensemble are less obnoxious than similar teen-casts, and the performances are quite good. There's even a suggestion of diversity, when one girl (Sammy, played by Diana Weston) is rumoured to be a lesbian – she isn't. The 'scares' are pure cut-price CGI Disney, despite some spookily set-up scenes.Late on, when the witch captures some of the youngsters, their fate is more than faintly bizarre and might succeed in raising a smile rather than have you fearing for their lives. Looking like a cowled Darth Maul before slowly becoming more beautiful (and far more effective) the more her victims are drained, her reveal coincides with events succumbing to the familiar slasher format.It's a very odd project, is 'The Wicked'. It's a horror film, but seemingly made by people who have no idea what makes horror work. It isn't down to a lack of budget, as apparently $1.5 was spent on this. It's a world where the law enforcers are blatant pantomime bad boys, where there is plenty of dry ice and sinister music but absolutely no atmosphere and despite the characters screaming and panicking enthusiastically, it isn't in the least bit frightening. Not without merit, this doesn't really deliver the goods as the horror film it sets out to be.

I was shocked that the movie was as good as it was, since I saw the IMDb grade and thought "should I waste my time watching this?" and I do not regret the choice I made! I've seen worse movies with higher grades. The story is kind of a cliché, but it is doable anyway. The actors are actually good compared to what I was expecting and some of the effects were actually well made. I cant say that everything was, but some. It gave me a few jumpscares, not much but little. The movie also made me laugh a few times with some of the punchlines.So, if you like me, are at home at a Saturday night, looking for a movie to watch just to pass the time, this is the one.

Good acting and good story but needs better direction. You know what your getting here, d2d teen horror of B+ quality. All that said, as others have said, if you like the genre it is worth watching. I did not find it as bad as some others. I watched until the end and though I would have preferred a few more scares, I don't feel like I was sold a bill of goods. It needs to use the storyline to better effect because similar plots have yielded superior movies but I would blame that more on direction than acting. Some of these actors really have what it takes while others... Well, you just have to laugh at how bad their acting is. That's part of the beauty of these movies to me.

This film has some awful reviews, personally I found the opening scenes creepy, the beginning I skipped a lot of acting was poor, cringeworthy and boring. After they get to the woods it gets a bit better. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it becomes a masterpiece in any way, shape or form, but if you like the 'Urban legend type story where teens get captured & then fight their way out' it gives you that - a bit tense and creepy in places. As I mentioned before I skipped along a few bits that were boring me and watched the more 'horror' bits and for me that made the film a lot better! As someone else said 'watch it drunk and it will be more fun'....