Argentinian horror maestro Demián Rugna is a name genre fans might not be familiar with yet, but that is about to change. Making its Midnight Madness TIFF premiere in just a few days is Rugna’s latest, When Evil Lurks, which offers an interesting twist on the tired old exorcism formula.
Starring Ezequiel Rodríguez and Demián Salomón, the story centers on brothers who accidentally unleash an epidemic of demonic possessions when they improperly try to exorcise a demon infection from their land.
Pretty cool idea, right? Not only do IFC Films and Shudder think so, but so does AMC Studios who are eyeing an expansion of the When Evil Lurks universe into television. Rugna’s made such an impression that Guillermo Del Toro is aboard a remake of his award-winning 2018 hit, Terrified.
Here’s the synopsis: When brothers Pedro (Ezequiel Rodríguez) and Jimmy (Demián Salomón) discover that a demonic infection has been festering in a nearby farmhouse — its very proximity poisoning the local livestock — they attempt to evict the victim from their land. Failing to adhere to the proper rites of exorcism, their reckless actions inadvertently trigger an epidemic of possessions across their rural community. Now, they must outrun an encroaching evil as it corrupts and mutilates everyone it is exposed to and enlist the aid of a wizened “cleaner,” who holds the only tools that can stop this supernatural plague.
When Evil Lurks hits theaters on October 6th, followed by Shudder streaming on October 27th.