SummaryFollowing his parents’ separation, a rebellious teenage boy, Ben, is sent to live with his father for the summer and work at the local marina in order to gain some form of discipline. The idyllic tourist town offers little solace for him, however, as he is forced to deal with the local, privileged teens and his father’s new girlfriend. Ben’s prob... Read More
Directed By:Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce
Written By:Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce
The Wretched
Metascore
Generally Favorable
61
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
61
60% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
33% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
May 7, 2020
79
It’s an honest to goodness real movie with a mind of its own; practical FX work and creature design help, too, as essential to what distinguishes The Wretched from its influences as the Pierce brothers’ writing.
May 5, 2020
75
The Wretched doesn’t reinvent the rules, but it has a timeliness to it that’s hard to shake. There’s not quite enough substance here to launch a franchise, but with a story so attuned to perils of a neglected world, it doesn’t need a sequel when we’re living in it every day.
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
45% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
45% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
10% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
May 2, 2020
8
A well executed practical effect focused throwback horror story, that delivers the disturbing imagery and a coming of age feel that older horror's had more of. The Wretched trailer caught my eye a few months back and i thought it looked very intriguing. I then saw it was also receiving some great reviews from the festivals it was shown at especially for its practical effects and 80's type presentation. I have always been looking for a witch themed film like this but had always been let down by blown potential of past films which I'm sure everyone can guess... Honestly this film finally scratched the itch i had for a vicious witch tale with excellent makeup/practical effects that isn't afraid to show viewers actual visuals of the main terrifying entities we've read or heard about for ages. The story also has a relative coming of age kind of feel to it with the main character that reminded me of many horror films of the 80's and made it more charming and fun. There were even some well placed sprinkles of comedy throughout that showed the film didn't have to take itself as serious or pretentious as some have. Direction wise the camerawork is also very crisp and very well done, and the SFX add a lot to the experience. What really shines as i already mentioned, is the extreme attention to detail in the makeup/practical effects realm. To make a great creature/feature horror film, these are integral. To see a film in 2020 utilize that good old fashioned practical craft over CGI effects is very commendable and refreshing. There are some moments that many will find cliche, and a few twists that may seem a bit unnecessary, but few and far between when considering how well done this lower budget film ends up finishing. Overall it's a fun throwback and a very straightforward horror film that gives the visual goods and the ominous feel that should come with its subject matter.
Apr 28, 2020
70
The film successfully mixes together a lot of things, from the waterfront tourist-town setting of “Jaws” to a general teen fantasy-adventure feel that tempers (without weakening) horror content variably redolent of “It,” “Fright Night” and myriad other predecessors. If originality isn’t a strong suit here, the film’s conviction and polish make that a minor sin.
May 4, 2020
67
A potboiler that doesn’t break any molds or reinvent any wheels. Still, there’s something to be said for setting modest goals and achieving them; if this really was some lost relic of the VHS era, it’d pass the blind rental test: There is a witch, and she’s as creepy as the box art would surely promise.
Apr 30, 2020
60
What the Pierce brothers lack in flavorful storytelling or compelling characters, they almost entirely make up for in good old-fashioned atmosphere and suspense. The Wretched rarely surprises, but it’s well-crafted enough to get under your skin anyway, with an able assist from the creepy camerawork of cinematographer Conor Murphy and unsettling score by Devin Burrows.
Apr 24, 2020
50
The Wretched is a polished reasonably tight tale of a witch infestation coming to rural, lakeside Michigan, and the teenage boy who screams “Why won’t anybody BELIEVE me?”
May 1, 2020
38
Unlike “Stranger Things,” The Wretched is a little too cute about teen angst, and not light enough on its feet to make you want to root for its ostensibly typical adolescent.
Jul 29, 2025
7
The Wretched is a low-budget supernatural horror flick by the Pierce brothers that delivers a surprisingly positive punch. Mixing teen horror with folklore, its story might seem a bit too modest at depicting typical adolescent behavior standards, but it’s also intriguing and dark—a tasty blend for horror fans. The story follows Ben, a mildly out-of-place teenager trying to process his parents’ separation in a natural way while settling into his new home with his dad in a coastal town. But things start to lean toward the absurd when he suspects something’s off with the neighbors. Throughout the film, Ben is the kind of protagonist you genuinely want to follow. He’s smart, he’s brave, he’s awkward and lonely, he’s got problems—and he’s going to overcome them. A protagonist written right. To thicken the stew of this well-done character development, the plot is a pleasure to follow: gripping and creepy. It’s not terrifying, but it’s definitely tense. And the story beats are effective and support what’s unfolding. When the climax hits, we’re desperate to know how Ben’s going to get out of the mess he’s landed in. That’s when a few minor missteps happen—like the dog-based deus ex machina, or how so many people end up subverted so quickly—but hey, overlook those and The Wretched delivers what it promises: a young adult horror movie with touches of folklore and mystery. A solid pick to wrap up a boring Sunday.
Mar 14, 2022
6
Wretched is a well shot, well edited horror of the 'demonic possession meets evil witch' variety. Sadly in such an over saturated genre there is little new ground here but if you're in the mood it serves up a decent ride.
Aug 9, 2022
5
If this were a skinwalker movie that kills and eats people and at max can mimic voices, I’d love it more. The whole illusion tree & forgetfulness powers made no sense to this movie. Opening scene was not needed & the two twists at the end were very unnecessary and I wished didn’t happen. It’s shot great, has lovable characters & has great makeup design. It’s just The Wretched powers that make no sense and I felt this movie did too much.
Aug 3, 2022
3
The Wretched never grabbed my attention and barely entertains for its 1:30 run time that feels like 2:30 hours. It has some good writing points and a few moments of fun dialogue along with a couple scares, but those moments don’t feel redeeming because of the overwhelming plot holes, inconsistent writing, bad dialogue,and bad acting.
Jun 26, 2020
2
Pérdida de tiempo, relativamente entretenida, trama prometedora sin exigir demasiado, malos personajes, mala dirección, guión aparentemente escrito sin inspiración y está repleto de agujeros, las situaciones son azarosas y sin ningún rumbo aparente. No la recomiendo a no ser de que tu aburrimiento sea extremo y quieras ver alguna novedad.
Production Company:
- Cailleach Productions
Release Date:May 1, 2020
Duration:1 h 35 m
Tagline:Something wicked wants inside.
Awards
Grimmfest
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Fright Meter Awards
• 2 Nominations
