HISTORY OF EVIL

Horror and politics go hand in hand in the latest Shudder Original HISTORY OF EVIL. Filmmaker Bo Mirhosseni takes audiences on a plausible what-if journey 20 years into the future. This terrifying tale navigates the fallout of stolen democracy, homegrown terrorism, and the evil that we cannot leave in the past.

Christofascism and government-sponsored militia, paramilitary gear and all, provide immediate rage and fear. The J6 patches are a brilliant touch. Ron goes undercover to rescue his wife, reunite his family, and get to the safe house for extraction. HISTORY OF EVIL shifts from a governmental apocalypse to a haunted house story about 20 minutes in. It’s a clever device. The script has honest echoes of Amityville Horror with Ron’s slow indoctrination into White Nationalism through hauntings and hallucinations. Bo Mirhosseni has created an incredibly disturbing arc.

Murphee Bloom plays the daughter of the resistance leaders. Her debut role as Daria proves she has that “it factor” to be a star. Jackie Cruz plays the opposite of her ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK role. Author and inspiration for The Resistance, strong-willed Alegre is a solid foil for Wesley.

Rhonda Johnsson Dents plays T, a modern-day Harriot Tubman for The Resistance. Her character adds weight to the film, and Dents gives a breathtaking performance. I’d love to see a spinoff where she leads. Paul Wesley captured the world’s attention in the CW series The Vampire Diaries. As Ron, Wesley transforms from an undead teen heartthrob to a protective father. He is charming and funny until the plot spoils him from the inside out. It is a fascinating turn.

The film smartly utilizes classic tropes while leaning into cyclical violence and our racist past and present. The script delivers multiple acts and a phenomenal final ten minutes. HISTORY OF EVIL is undeniably entertaining.

Premieres On Shudder February 23rd

Writer & Director: Bo Mirhosseni

Cast: Paul Wesley, Jackie Cruz, Murphee Bloom, Rhonda Johnsson Dents

Genre: Horror

Language: English

Runtime: 98 min

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AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and Original Content is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Over the last few years, Shudder has introduced audiences to groundbreaking and critically acclaimed films including Rob Savage’s HOST, Jayro Bustamante’s LA LLORONA, Phil Tippett’s MAD GOD, Coralie Fargeat’s REVENGE, Joko Anwar’s SATAN’S SLAVES, Josh Ruben’s SCARE ME, Kyle Edward Ball’s SKINAMARINK, Christian Tafdrup’s SPEAK NO EVIL, Chloe Okuno’s WATCHER, Demián Rugna‘s WHEN EVIL LURKS, and the latest in the V/H/S film anthology franchise, as well as the fan favorite TV series THE BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA, Greg Nicotero’s CREEPSHOW, and THE LAST DRIVE-IN WITH JOE BOB BRIGGS.