When Evil Lurks

{{Short description|2023 film directed by Demián Rugna}}

{{Distinguish|What Evil Lurks{{!}}What Evil Lurks}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox film

| image = When Evil Lurks (2023) poster.jpg

| caption = Promotional release poster

| director = Demián Rugna

| writer = Demián Rugna

| producer = Fernando Díaz

| starring = {{Plainlist|

• Ezequiel Rodríguez
• Demián Salomon
• Luis Ziembrowski
• Silvia Sabater
• Marcelo Michinaux

}}

| music = Pablo Fuu

| cinematography = Mariano Suárez

| editing = Lionel Cornistein

| released = {{Film date|2023|09|13|TIFF|2023|10|06|United States|2023|11|09|Argentina}}

| studio = {{Plainlist|

• Shudder
• Aramos Cine
• Machaco Films

}}

| distributor = {{Plainlist|

• IFC Films
• Shudder
• BF Paris S.R.L.{{cite web |title=Cuando acecha la maldad (2023) |url=https://calificaciones.incaa.gob.ar/index.php?q=CUANDO+ACECHA+LA+MALDAD&director=Demian+Rugna&bt_buscar=Buscar+Calificaciones |website=Advisory Commission of Cinematographic Exhibition |publisher=National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts |access-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210194750/https://calificaciones.incaa.gob.ar/index.php?q=CUANDO+ACECHA+LA+MALDAD&director=Demian+Rugna&bt_buscar=Buscar+Calificaciones |archive-date=10 February 2024 |language=es}} {{Small|({{Abbr|Arg.|Argentina}})}}

}}

| runtime = 99 minutes

| country = {{Plainlist|

• Argentina
• United States

}}

| language = Spanish

| budget =

| gross = US$2.1 million{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1000964865/weekend/ |title=When Evil Lurks (2023) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2 August 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/When-Evil-Lurks-(2023)#tab=summary |title=When Evil Lurks (2023) |website=The Numbers |access-date=2 August 2024}}

}}

When Evil Lurks ({{langx|es|Cuando acecha la maldad}}) is a 2023 supernatural horror film written and directed by Demián Rugna. An international co-production of Argentina and the United States, the film stars Ezequiel Rodríguez, Demián Salomon, Luis Ziembrowski, Silvia Sabater and Marcelo Michinaux.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/ifc-films-shudder-demian-rugna-1235714065/|title=IFC Films, Shudder Set Release For 'Terrified' Director Demián Rugna's "When Evil Lurks", Drop Trailer (Exclusive)|last=Jones|first=Holly|date=September 6, 2023|website=Variety|access-date=September 6, 2023}}

When Evil Lurks premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 16, 2023. It received a theatrical release by IFC Films on October 6, and debuted on the streaming service Shudder on October 27.{{cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2023/09/when-evil-lurks-teaser-new-bone-crunching-horror-flick-from-demian-rugna.html|title=When Evil Lurks Teaser: New Bone Crunching Horror Flick From Demian Rugna!|last=Mack|first=Andrew|date=September 6, 2023|website=Screen Anarchy|access-date=September 6, 2023}}

==Plot==

The morning after hearing gunshots in the woods near the land where they work, brothers Pedro and Jaime discover a disemboweled corpse, which leads them to a nearby shack where María Elena, an elderly woman, and her two sons, Uriel and Eduardo, are in hiding. Uriel has become a "Rotten", a being possessed by an unborn demon awaiting physical birth. The corpse was that of a "Cleaner", a professional who was to kill Uriel and exorcise the demon before it could possess others.

The authorities dismiss the demon as not their problem. The landowner, Ruiz, suggests removing Uriel from the shack and dumping him away from his land. After driving several hundred kilometers, the men realize that Uriel has fallen off the truck somewhere along the way. Unable to find him, Ruiz declares the matter resolved and returns home. The next morning, one of Ruiz's goats has become possessed. Ruiz's wife Jimena warns against using guns because they will only spread the infectious possession, but Ruiz shoots the animal with his shotgun. A possessed Jimena then kills Ruiz and commits suicide. That night, Eduardo knocks on Pedro and Jaime's door. Eduardo's mother disappeared after the men took Uriel, and he found Ruiz and Jimena dead. Afraid to return to his shack alone, he begs the men to let him stay the night. Pedro allows Eduardo to sleep in their shed, provided that he surrenders his pistol and promises to leave at sunrise.

The next morning, Jaime and Pedro plan to leave town with their families to be safe. Jaime gets their mother Sara while Pedro goes to his ex-wife Sabrina and his two children, Santino and Jair. Sabrina lives with Leonardo, her new husband. The family dog, who previously licked Pedro's demon-mucked clothes, mauls Vicky (Leonardo and Sabrina's daughter) dragging her outside. Leonardo shoots the dog despite Pedro's warning. Pedro returns to Sabrina and discovers that Vicky is back, and seemingly normal. As Pedro steals a car and drives away with his sons, a possessed Leonardo rams his truck into Sabrina and Vicky, who later dances gleefully.

After Pedro picks up Jaime and Sara, the assembled family leaves town. They meet up with Mirta, a former Cleaner and Jaime's acquaintance from the city, who invites them to stay overnight. Mirta warns Jaime about Jair, who exhibits signs of possession. Jaime dismisses this as related to Jair's autism. Mirta explains that they must find and kill Uriel using the appropriate ritual to prevent the demon from being fully born. Sabrina eventually kidnaps Santino. Jaime chases after her while Mirta and Pedro take Mirta's truck to search for Uriel. Jaime reaches Sabrina only to find that she has killed Santino and is eating his brains. Furious, he runs Sabrina down and pins her to a tree. Sara stays behind to wait with Jair, who begins walking unassisted and speaking without impediment.

Pedro and Mirta's search leads to a schoolhouse filled with possessed children who killed all the nearby adults and worked to conceal Uriel. Uriel is hidden under an auditorium's stage, and Pedro tries to unearth him as Mirta sets up the exorcising ritual. Losing his patience and believing that a nearby fire axe might help dismember and move Uriel, Pedro runs to the office only to be locked in by the children. While he is occupied, the children kill Mirta and dismantle her equipment. Getting back to the auditorium too late to save Mirta, an angry Pedro beats Uriel to death. The demon is then born out of Uriel's corpse, appearing as a nude, blood-covered child. The demon taunts Pedro, marking him with streaks of blood and sparing his life as he leaves, followed by the children.

Pedro and Jaime reunite at Mirta's house, collect Jair and return home. Inspecting the property, Jaime finds the possessed Eduardo, who admits to killing and eating the original Cleaner four days before. He did the same thing to his own mother and alludes that Sara suffered a similar fate. Inside, Pedro feeds Jair ice cream. However, Jair chokes, and proceeds to cough up Sara's hair and necklace. Pedro walks outside, collapses, and wails.