"In Its Wake," a horror film set in a remote and snow-covered landscape, intricately weaves the fates of diverse characters around the emergence of a dark, supernatural force. This movie, with its blend of horror and mythology, presents a unique narrative journey.
The narrative begins in a seemingly mundane setting—a restaurant—where two distinct groups are introduced. One consists of four friends: Amy, Laura, Tim, and Manny; the other includes three businessmen: Mitch, Sean, and Sam. These individuals, initially unrelated, find themselves drawn together in a remote location due to a series of coincidental events, including both groups running out of gas. This convergence sets the stage for the unfolding horror, highlighting the movie's theme of fate and destiny.
A pivotal character in "In Its Wake" is Kurdt Waidmann, a former pastor who has transformed into a warrior for God. Accompanied by his allies, Waidmann is on a mission to battle a demon known as a Drude. Their aim is to reconsecrate land tainted by evil, involving a ritual in a location where earlier victims met their fate. This aspect of the film delves deeply into themes of supernatural struggle and the dichotomy between good and evil.
Directed by Lee Foster and co-written by Angela Cavallin and Ryan Kobold, the film takes its time to build suspense and horror. However, this approach has drawn criticism for its slow pacing. The Drude, the film's main antagonist, is described as a bizarre amalgamation of a green baboon and the alien from the TV show Alf. Its connection to a unique interpretation of The Wild Hunt and The Duke of Crows introduces complex layers of mythology and supernatural lore to the story.
As the film progresses, its narrative structure struggles with cohesion. The separation of the three groups for most of the film's duration contributes to a disjointed feel, and the creature's design and the development of the story have been points of critique.
The final act of "In Its Wake" brings the surviving characters together in a climactic convergence. However, the story itself grapples with achieving a satisfactory resolution, leaving several questions unanswered. This section of the film, while action-packed, has been remarked upon for its abrupt ending and lack of closure.
"In Its Wake" offers a mix of horror, supernatural elements, and a struggle between good and evil against the backdrop of a Canadian winter. Attempting to interweave various narrative strands and themes, the film faces challenges in pacing and maintaining a cohesive storyline. Nevertheless, for aficionados of horror with a penchant for mythological twists, "In Its Wake" presents an engaging, albeit somewhat irregular, cinematic experience.
