Movie: Little Evil
My Rating: 3 stars
By now you’ve got to know that I love a horror-comedy. It’s probably my favorite genre. So, this comedy about a hapless newlywed Gary, whose new step-son may or may not be the Antichrist, really piqued my interest. Of course, just about every step-dad is probably convinced that his new wife’s kid is the spawn of Satan. But, when the little guy is able to summon plagues and rain down hellfire on his enemies, we have to admit that Dad may have a point. Of course, Mom Samantha doesn’t want to hear a word of it. Lucas is her little angel and she just can’t understand why anyone would blame a child for a few school administrators getting buried alive or perishing in a spontaneous fire.
Evangeline Lilly is pleasant as the mom, Samantha. She’s sweet and beautiful and plays the earnest character very well. But, Adam Scott and his posse of other step-dads really steal the show. Scott is always great playing the straight-man. He really has a talent for taking himself very seriously in the funniest way possible. I think his natural resting face looks bewildered. And, the group of other step-dad friends from the neighborhood really punctuate the silliness. I especially like Bridget Everett as Al. And, of course, there’s the little devil himself, Owen Atlas as Lucas. Little kids are always pretty creepy when they’re used in horror movies. But, this little guy really nails being comedically sinister. He’s got the right little face for it. It’s all very funny.
This movie is pretty easy to get your hands on. I got it streaming through Netflix. I think it’s part of their new catalog of original content. So, it’s definitely worth checking out this one. It’s well-made, moves quickly, and the comedy is spot-on in tone. It is definitely at the sillier end of the horror-comedy spectrum, so it’s not really a “must-see.” But, it’s a good choice if you’re in the mood for some irreverent fun.