Oddity: Streaming Release, cast, plot, Trailer, & Everything we know About Damian McCarthy’s Horror film

Oddity, an indie horror film directed by Damian McCarthy, is creeping its way towards a major streaming release and ready to captivate horror fans worldwide. The film has already built a reputation for its eerie atmosphere and spine-chilling plot. 

This dark thriller centers on a blind medium grieving the mysterious death of her twin sister, with cursed objects and a sinister wooden mannequin becoming central to the story’s terrifying twists.

With its streaming debut just around the corner, Oddity is stirring up excitement among those eager for a fresh and unnerving experience. The film promises a blend of supernatural suspense and gripping mysteries that will leave you on edge from start to finish.

Are you curious about what makes Oddity stand out? From its cast to its haunting narrative, we’ll uncover the key details, teasing the most terrifying secrets without giving everything away. Keep an eye on this space as we continue to update you with more shocking insights and surprises leading up to its release!

Release date & Where to Watch

Oddity will start streaming on Shudder on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, marking its R-rated debut on the platform. 

Blue Finch Films secured the international distribution rights for the movie in Feb. 2024. After premiering at South by Southwest on March 8, where it won the Audience Award in the Midnighters category, it also took home the Audience Award for Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival in April. 

The film was released in the US on July 19, 2024, and later screened at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on Aug. 4, 2024. Wildcard Distribution handled the release in Ireland and the UK on Aug. 30, 2024.

Plot

Carolyn Bracken stars in Oddity as Dani, who, along with her husband Ted (Gwilym Lee), is renovating a house in the Irish countryside. One night, Olin (Tadhg Murphy), a discharged patient from a mental institution, visits their home and warns Dani of impending danger. Soon after, Dani is murdered, followed by Olin’s brutal death.

A year later, Dani’s blind twin sister, Darcy (also played by Bracken), a psychic who owns a curio shop full of haunted items, arrives at the house. Ted, now living with his new girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton), is thrown into turmoil as Darcy begins to unravel sinister mysteries surrounding Dani’s death. Darcy brings a life-sized wooden mannequin and other cursed objects to the house, using her psychic abilities to investigate the events leading to her sister’s murder. 

Tensions rise between Darcy and Yana, particularly when a strange wooden witch doll appears. The situation escalates when the mannequin begins moving on its own, and Darcy’s psychic readings suggest something far darker is at play. The plot unravels slowly, revealing a web of deception. It turns out Ted was responsible for orchestrating Dani’s murder, with the help of Ivan, an orderly from the psychiatric hospital. Olin, who had overheard the murder plot, tried to warn Dani but was wrongly accused and killed.

In the film's climax, Darcy confronts Ted about his involvement. When Ted leaves Darcy alone, she accidentally falls through a trap door he had set up. Ivan returns to ensure Darcy’s death but is brutally attacked by the animated wooden mannequin, which Darcy had seemingly controlled before dying. Ted later has Ivan killed to cover up the murder.

In the final moments, Ted receives a haunted bell from Darcy’s oddities shop. Despite the warnings, he rings it, oblivious to the vengeful spirit of a bellhop standing behind him.

Cast

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• Carolyn Bracken as Dani Timmins/Darcy Odello
• Johnny French as Declan/Jonathan French
• Steve Wall as Ivan
• Joe Rooney as Bernie
• Gwilym Lee as Ted Timmis
• Tadhg Murphy as Olin Boole
• Caroline Menton as Yana
• Ivan de Wergifosse as Wooden Man
• Shane Whisker as Bellhop
• Joshua Campbell as Patient
• Austin Lawlor as Patient
• Peter McCarthy as Patient
• Fiach McHugh as Patient
• Patrick Mullins as Patient
• Jim O'Donnell as Patient
• Inma Pavon as Nurse
• Leticia Lopez Ramos as Nurse
• Chris Mudrack as Orderly

Official Trailer

Theatrical Release Reviews

Written and directed by Caveat filmmaker Damian McCarthy, Oddity premiered at SXSW in March, where it won the Audience Award in the Midnighters category. The film, a co-production between IFC and Shudder, opened in limited release on July 19 across 790 theaters and has earned nearly $1.2 million to date, according to The Numbers. Although the production budget is not available, Oddity has received positive feedback from audiences, with an 82% "fresh" Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 250 verified ratings.

Critics have also praised the film. Vogue's Taylor Antrim describes Oddity as "an excruciatingly scary film" that stands out for its intense jump scares and fresh storytelling. New York Times critic Jeannette Catsoulis calls it "a fun, back-to-basics supernatural thriller," noting its focus on jump scares rather than shock value. The Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus highlights Oddity as "an elegant and spooky ghost story" that sticks to classic horror fundamentals while delivering highly effective scares.

Production & Filming

The film was shot in a converted barn in County Cork, Ireland, the same location where McCarthy filmed his debut, Caveat. While working on Caveat, McCarthy simultaneously developed Oddity. Effects artist Paul McDonnell crafted the life-size wooden mannequin used in the film with McCarthy's input. Drawing inspiration from movies like Child's Play and Creepshow, McCarthy personally sourced many of the film's props during his frequent visits to antique stores.