The Wretched

The year was 1985, and Megan (Sydne Mikelle) found herself ensnared in a chilling nightmare at the Gambel residence. While settling in for a babysitting job, she was drawn by a sinister noise echoing from the basement, leading her to confront a horrific sight feasting on its young victims. In a frantic attempt to escape, Megan bolted up the stairs, only to meet a gruesome end at the hands of Mr. Gambel. As her life faded away, a haunting symbol engraved on the door appeared to mock her tragic fate.

Fast forward to the present day, where Ben (John-Paul Howard) seeks comfort in the familiarity of his father Liam’s (Jamison Jones) home, a sanctuary from the storm of his parents’ impending divorce. During this tumultuous time, Ben connects with Mallory (Piper Curda) at the local marina, where he also clashes with the arrogant Gage (Richard Ellis). Meanwhile, Liam wrestles with his unresolved feelings for Sara (Azie Tesfai).

Amidst these personal struggles, an eerie incident begins to unfold in the woods. Abbie (Zarah Mahler) and her son Dillon (Blane Crockarell) venture into the shadows and discover a tree marked with the same mysterious symbol that terrified Megan years ago. As Dillon approaches the tree, an otherworldly whisper beckons him, becoming increasingly menacing as Abbie materializes from its bark. The bizarre encounter vanishes as quickly as it appeared, leaving only unsettling echoes in their wake.

As night descends, Abbie and her family return home with a freshly caught deer, only to grapple with the gruesome remains. The following day, Ben forms an unexpected friendship with Dillon, while Abbie’s seemingly perfect life begins to crumble with the sudden decay of her garden flowers.

That evening, while Ben anticipated dinner with Liam and Sara, he found himself caught up in Mallory’s orbit, trading familial responsibilities for a festive night. Unbeknownst to him, lurking just beyond the treeline was an encroaching darkness set to unravel their lives. At the party, Ben’s romantic attempts with Mallory go hilariously awry. Just as they are on the brink of a kiss, he ends up embarrassed, covered in his own vomit. Things go from bad to worse when another girl playfully steals his underwear, leaving him floundering in front of his peers.

The morning brings new horrors when Abbie investigates her son Sam’s nursery, only to find a grotesque scene of blood and gore. Delving deeper into the darkness, she is swiftly overpowered and taken beneath the crib by an unseen force.

Later that day, while Liam is stuck at work, Ben accepts an olive branch from Sara, apologizing for his previous comments. However, his troubles escalate when he discovers Dillon hiding upstairs in fear, evading Abbie’s ominous presence. When “Abbie” knocks at the door, Ben feigns ignorance until Ty bursts in, prompting Dillon to seek refuge elsewhere.

As the day fades into night, Ben realizes he has missed a sailing lesson with Dillon, all while Abbie’s secrets begin to unravel. Under her influence, Ty becomes unwittingly ensnared, and Abbie witnesses her own terrifying transformation—her skin decaying dramatically due to the dark forces at play.

Fueled by rising suspicion, Ben explores the sinister history of a malevolent sorceress known for her ruthless powers of manipulation. His investigation leads him to discover a chilling photograph in Ty and Abbie’s cellar, missing a crucial detail: Ty’s face has been violently scratched out. This revelation sends Ben into a panic as he learns that Mallory’s young sister Lily could be the sorceress’s next target. Desperately, he tries to warn Mallory, but she remains blissfully unaware of her sister’s impending doom.

In a frantic race against time, Ben arrives too late to save Lily from the grip of the vengeful sorceress, who has pulled her into her nightmarish domain. As he pleads for assistance from the authorities, Ben finds himself in a precarious situation—accused of breaking and entering, ditching work, and confronting Gage after stumbling upon rotten fish in his father’s boat.

When left alone with Sara, Ben observes the telltale signs of possession. In a desperate move to free her, he inflicts a cut on her arm, but the sorceress twists the scene to implicate Ben as an attacker right in front of Liam.

Ben’s world descends further into chaos as he is taken into custody, imploring Liam to look into the unsettling events surrounding him. Just as hope seems dim, a heroic dog distracts the possessed sheriff long enough for Ben to escape. Meanwhile, back in Ty and Abbie’s home, Liam uncovers the horrifying remnants of his family members, alongside a grotesque shrine built by the sorceress.

As Ben’s reality continues to shatter, he confronts Sara—now fully a puppet under the sorceress’s control, with her gaze fixed coldly on Liam. In a climactic moment, Ben manages to shoot Sara, breaking the sorceress’s spell. Yet, the malevolent spirit emerges from her fallen form, determined to keep Ben from escaping the destruction engulfing them.

As he fights to protect both himself and Liam from the inferno consuming their home, Ben is suddenly hit by a wave of forgotten memories, which brings the shocking revelation of his long-lost brother Nathan. This truth sends him spiraling as he realizes everything is coming apart at the seams.

With the sun setting, Ben embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue his siblings from the clutches of evil, joining forces with Mallory. The duo crafts a plan targeting the ancient tree, setting traps against the dark force that ensnared them. With meticulous planning, Ben coats the gnarled trunk with lighter fluid, while Mallory surrounds it with salt, establishing a protective barrier against the darkness. As Ben delves into the depths of the tree, he trudges forward cautiously, seeking the witch’s lair.

His quest leads him to a horrific sight—the witch voraciously consuming Dillon’s lifeless form. Undeterred, Ben manages to locate Nathan and guide him back to safety, but Nathan rushes back in a desperate bid to rescue Lily. A fierce struggle ensues as Ben confronts the witch, fighting valiantly to secure Lily’s release. Just when it seems all hope is lost, Liam crashes into the scene, colliding with the sorceress and sending her sprawling.

As the aftermath settles, Ben, Nathan, and their mother prepare to leave, while Liam opts to stay behind and recover from his harrowing experiences. During heartfelt farewells, Ben shares a tender moment with Mallory, exchanging a kiss as she places a delicate flower in his hair. With a bittersweet smile, she walks away, seamlessly blending in with a group of children eagerly awaiting their sailing lessons. As Ben settles into the car, he catches sight of the flower adorning his hair—an unsettling revelation washes over him: the witch has somehow returned, now possessing Mallory and leaving her with three unsuspecting young charges…

Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 13:10