Oddity is exactly that, a movie that appears poised to take a familiar narrative road — an inanimate thing, be it mummy, mannequin, statue, doll or toy, is imbued with unnatural life — but at the story path where horror and comedy diverge, it takes a hard right to the odd and seriously disturbing side. And that’s refreshing because, to be honest, I think pretty much all these narratives take a wrong turn, from the non-horror Lars and the Real Girl (2007) to the inexplicably (to me, anyway) popular Child’s Play (1988-2019), Puppet Master (1981-2012) and Demonic Toys (1992-2023) movie franchises, none of which have ever done much for me. Though I will go to the mat for Rubber (2010, dir. Quentin Dupieux), about a murderous tire; don’t be put off by the comedy / horror label often affixed to it — it’s genuinely creepy and unexpectedly poignant.
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