Little Evil (2017)

“Little Evil” stars Evangeline Lilly, Adam Scott, Bridget Everett, Owen Atlas, and Clancy Brown.  Released on Netflix on September 1, 2017, the film is about a real estate agent who discovers that his wife’s son is the Antichrist.

The film is directed by Eli Craig, who is known for directing Tucker & Dale vs Evil.  Just because there aren’t any new movies playing in theaters doesn’t mean there isn’t anything new to watch on the streaming services, either.  I mean, seriously, look at all the new shows and movies that Netflix is releasing this month.  Its first original movie in September finds director Eli Craig returning to the horror comedy genre after helming Tucker & Dale back in 2010.  Although, from the looks of the trailer and the synopsis, it does feel a bit similar to the 1976 horror classic, The Omen.  The only difference is that it’s intending to be funny, heartwarming, and scary.  Whether it works or not is the question.

Like The Omen, the film does feature the “little boy as the Antichrist” plot element, but it also included a stepfather twist in the form of Adam Scott.  If you’re familiar with Eli Craig’s Tucker & Dale vs Evil, then you might notice his strategy in combining horror with comedy in this movie.  Horror comedies can be a bit tough to make because you want to scare your audience, but at the same time, you want to make them laugh.  Unfortunately, for me, this film does none of that.  While the cast did their part in preventing the film from being dragged into Hell, their attempts in providing some laughs were pretty embarrassing.  The concept was one of the reasons why I went into this film with sheer curiosity, and for the most part, it was trying a bit too hard to poke fun at the “Antichrist” element.  Along with some mediocre characters and weak storytelling, the film offers a heartwarming, yet idiotic, theme about fatherhood while providing its share of comedy that’s as lifeless as Satan himself.

Overall, “Little Evil” is better off being compelled by the power of Christ in terms of storytelling and comedy.  If you’re expecting me to say anything else about this film, I’m sorry.  I just don’t know how.  It’s actually been a while since I saw a comedy that didn’t make me laugh, and I’m actually surprised that a film with a decent cast and an interesting concept disappointed me that much.  Maybe if I watch it again, my opinion towards it might change, but right now, this is one movie that I won’t be watching at church.  If you managed to watch it and happened to like it, good for you and I apologize for not liking it as much as you do.

D-