Writer/directr Sam Mason-Bell’s They Wait in Shadows is a horror film that mixes childhood trauma and the supernatural to form a concise, delightfully dreadful story that feels all too real. The film follows sisters Ingrid (Jessica Hunt) and Jenny (Megan Adara) as they return to their childhood home to clean out old possessions. After a few nights, however, they soon realize that the repressed memories of monsters from their childhood that they believed to be nothing more than their imagination may, in fact, be all too real. As the estranged sisters spend more time in the house and their nightmares begin to take hold of them, tensions begin to rise as both Ingrid and Jenny seek to vanquish the demons plaguing their minds.
Hunt and Adara’s casting as sisters Ingrid and Jenny is nothing short of phenomenal. Their chemistry is palpable, and the dialogue reads as genuine banter between siblings. The actresses’ on-screen time together elevates scenes to a whole new level. The characters feel like they were plucked right out of our world and placed right into this nightmare, yet Hunt and Adara’s portrayal make them feel perfectly at home.
“…both Ingrid and Jenny seek to vanquish the demons plaguing their minds.”
Mason-Bell takes on heavy themes in They Wait in Shadows, and unabashedly so. Its portrayal of grief, the lasting effects of abuse, and PTSD feel real and grounded, despite the literal demons haunting their nightmares. Topics like this require care and nuance to tackle, and he proves he is up to the task.
They Wait in Shadows is far from perfect, but there is a love of classic horror that shines through the finished craft. The animatronics, full-body makeup, and puppetry feel like they came straight out of a 1980s or 90s horror flick. For some, this movie will hit all the right spots, while others may be put off by the campy nature of the film and rubber-looking monsters. Regardless, there’s a dedication to the craft and a notable passion for the genre in the film, and it’s easily respectable, even if the film struggles in other areas.
While They Wait in Shadows doesn’t reinvent the wheel in the horror genre, it doesn’t have to. The tried-and-true tropes carry it through to the end, and the care put into the full-body makeup and prosthetics is sure to draw in the most avid horror fans. Mason-Bell proves he is well-equipped for the task with this film, and fans should keep an eye out for what he concocts next.
