The Dark and the Wicked

The Dark and the Wicked 2020

Directed by

Bryan Bertino

Bryan Bertino

Made by

RLJE Films

RLJE Films

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Plot Summary


Louise and Michael, siblings bound by family ties, return to their ancestral farm in Texas due to their father’s declining health. Bedridden and unable to communicate, he is under the care of his devoted wife and a nurse. However, their mother’s behavior begins to raise concerns as she seems unsettled and encourages the children to leave. The tragic climax comes when she takes her own life in the barn, after distressing acts of self-mutilation in the kitchen.

As they grapple with their mother’s sudden death, Louise and Michael slowly uncover unsettling truths. The nurse reveals that she heard their mother whispering to their father, as if communicating with a darker, unseen entity rather than him. Michael discovers a diary left by their mother, filled with accounts of her growing fears about a nameless and potentially malevolent presence that seemed to prey upon her husband.

During their mother’s funeral, the siblings meet Xander Berkeley, a priest claiming familiarity with their mother. That very night, Father Thorne’s spectral form beckons them from outside but vanishes as mysteriously as he appeared. In a tragic twist, Charlie, a nearby ranch hand, suffers a hallucination involving Louise, leading him to take his own life in a disturbing act of self-destruction.

Unaware of her friend’s fate, Louise attempts to reach Charlie by phone but is met with a chilling revelation: the person on the line insists he has never visited Texas. Anxious for their father’s well-being, the siblings consult a doctor who determines that their father’s condition is critical; he cannot be moved without risk of fatality.

As dread continues to loom, Louise and Michael are horrified to discover their herd of goats has been violently slaughtered. They begin to incinerate the remains. That night, Michael experiences a shocking encounter in the barn when the apparition of their mother confronts him before fading away. Louise, while lying next to her father, finds herself trapped in a nightmare where a dark force attempts to possess her, culminating in a horrific vision of her father levitating.

The next day brings more despair when Charlie’s granddaughter arrives, informing Louise of his suicide. However, as the girl’s demeanor shifts to a sinister one, it becomes evident that it is the entity masquerading as her. In an alarming sequence of events, the nurse arrives, and in a terrifying turn, she becomes possessed and violently attacks herself, tragically succumbing to her injuries.

Meanwhile, Michael returns home, only to discover his wife and daughters dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. Overwhelmed with grief, he too ends his life, only to realize, in the moments before his demise, that the entity has manipulated the situation, as his family unexpectedly reenters the home moments later.

Back at the farm, as night falls, Louise awakens to the horrific reality of her father’s death. In a harrowing conclusion, she is confronted by the demon that has tormented her family, leading to her ultimate downfall.

Timeline


Return to Ancestral Farm

Louise and Michael, siblings, return to their family farm in Texas because their father's health has declined significantly. Unable to communicate and bedridden, he is under the care of their concerned mother and a nurse, setting the stage for a tragic turn of events.

Texas

Mother's Unsettling Behavior

Their mother's strange and unsettling behavior raises concerns as she urges the siblings to leave the farm. Her demeanor grows increasingly erratic, foreshadowing the tragic events to come.

Family Farm

Tragic Suicide

In a heartbreaking moment, their mother takes her own life in the barn after a series of self-mutilative acts in the kitchen. This shocking event shatters Louise and Michael as they grapple with their loss.

Barn

Uncovering the Truth

Reeling from their mother's death, Louise and Michael delve into her past and uncover unsettling truths about her mental state. The nurse reveals that she overheard their mother speaking to someone, hinting at a dark presence that seemed to haunt the family.

Nurse's Room

Discovery of the Diary

Michael stumbles upon his mother’s diary which reveals her growing fears regarding a nameless entity that appeared to affect their father. The contents provide a chilling insight into her troubled mind and foreshadow further tragedies.

House

Meeting the Priest

During their mother's funeral, the siblings meet Father Thorne, a priest who claims he knew their mother. This meeting introduces a potential ally in their quest to understand the inexplicable events surrounding their family's decline.

Funeral

Supernatural Encounter

That night, Louise and Michael experience a spectral encounter with an apparition resembling their mother. The ghostly figure beckons them from outside, creating a chilling atmosphere as they realize they might not be alone.

Night Farm

Charlie’s Hallucination

Nearby ranch hand Charlie suffers a hallucination featuring Louise, leading him to commit suicide in a horrific act of self-destruction. This tragic event adds to the growing atmosphere of despair and dread in the community.

Near Ranch

Phone Revelation

Louise, unaware of Charlie's fate, tries to reach him by phone and is disturbed to hear a strange voice asserting that he has never been to Texas. This unsettling encounter raises alarms about the strange occurrences surrounding them.

Father's Condition Deteriorates

Concerned for their father's health, the siblings consult a doctor who grimly informs them that their father's condition is critical. He cannot be moved due to the acute risk of fatality, adding to their burden of despair.

Doctor's Office

Slaughtered Goats

Louise and Michael discover that their herd of goats has been brutally slaughtered, a horrific sight that leaves them shell-shocked. They begin the grim task of incinerating the remains, marking a turning point into deeper chaos.

Farm

Michael's Night in the Barn

One night in the barn, Michael is confronted by the apparition of their mother, leaving him horrified and questioning his sanity. The chilling encounter signifies the deepening connection between their family and dark forces.

Night Barn

Possession of the Nurse

In a terrifying twist, the nurse who cares for their father suddenly becomes possessed and violently injures herself. This event escalates the horror as violent supernatural forces seem to be at work against them.

Farm House

Michael's Family Tragedy

Michael returns home only to tragically find his wife and daughters dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. Overwhelmed with grief and confusion, he ends his own life, not realizing until it's too late that he has been manipulated by the dark entity.

Michael's Home

Confrontation with the Demon

As night descends on the farm again, Louise awakens to the horrifying reality of her father's death. In a heart-wrenching climax, she is ultimately confronted by the demon that has tormented her family, leading to a bleak and tragic conclusion.

Family Farm

Characters


Louise (Marin Ireland)

Louise is a complex character marked by deep emotional wounds stemming from her family's past. As she confronts the horrors surrounding her, her resilience is tested time and again. Her connection to the farm is both a source of strength and a reminder of her family's tragic history.

👩‍👧 Family 😢 Grief 🏭 Survival

Michael (Michael Abbott Jr.)

Michael embodies the struggle of balancing familial obligations with personal dread. His journey reveals a man overwhelmed by the unfolding surreal and horrifying events around him, ultimately succumbing to despair. His character illustrates the detrimental effects of grief and trauma on mental stability.

👨‍👧 Family 😞 Despair ⚰️ Loss

Priest (Xander Berkeley)

The Priest serves as a mysterious figure in the narrative, claiming to understand the family's plight. His presence adds to the unsettling atmosphere, as he seems to embody both comfort and potential deceit. His involvement raises questions about faith in the face of despair.

⛪ Faith 🤔 Intrigue 👻 Supernatural

Charlie (Tom Nowicki)

Charlie, a nearby ranch hand, represents the hard life of rural existence interwoven with tragedy. His character’s own battle against hallucinations highlights the fine line between reality and the horror that permeates the story. His fate serves as a stark reminder of how pervasive the dark entity's influence can be.

🤠 Ranch Life 😔 Tragedy 💀 Suicide

Setting


Time period

The narrative lives in a contemporary setting marked by family struggles and supernatural occurrences. Issues of mental health, grief, and existential dread play out in a present-day context, bringing a relatable yet haunting atmosphere.

Location

Texas

The movie is set on an ancestral farm in Texas, a location that symbolizes deep family roots and personal history. The rural landscape brings a sense of isolation and tranquility, which starkly contrasts with the unfolding horror. The farm becomes a character in itself, embodying the weight of the family's tragic legacy.

🏞️ Rural 🏡 Ancestral Farm

Themes


🌑

Isolation

Isolation is felt both physically and emotionally throughout the film. Louise and Michael's return to the farm reveals the loneliness stemming from their familial bonds, accentuated by their mother's unsettling behavior. The rural setting heightens their sense of estrangement as they grapple with grief and existential despair.

👻

Supernatural

The supernatural theme permeates the story, manifesting through a dark entity that manipulates the family's fate. Whispers, apparitions, and a sense of dread create an atmosphere thick with fear, as each family member becomes increasingly susceptible to the malevolent forces at play. The blend of reality and dark, supernatural influences compels viewers to question the nature of their fears.

💔

Grief

Grief is a central theme explored through the siblings' reactions to their mother's tragic death and their father's deteriorating health. The emotional turmoil they face amplifies feelings of loss, regret, and helplessness. As they confront the aftermath of their family's tragedies, their grief transforms into something darker and more sinister.

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