source: Evil Takes Root

IMO, Evil Takes Root deserves more than current score of 4.4/10. It stands out among low budget horror movies despite lacking in scary moments. It has decent plot, pacing and ending that makes sense in its universe. Characters don't frustrate me with their stupidity either. At least, it has a proper story unlike recent trend of films that focus more on themes, art and delivering a 'message'. I would rather watch this than Relic (2020).

Not a big budget production but OK never-the-less. Evil Takes Root sees a paranormal investigator get involved in a complicated investigation of witchcraft and demonology. It has its moments and is certainly worth a watch. The more movies I watch the more I appreciate how critical a competent and adventurous cinematographer is. Roy Rossovich is up to the job in every sense. There is an excellent low aeriel shot which encompasses all things wiccan which is typical of his style. There is an occasional silliness to the plot but director and co-writer Chris W. Freeman keeps a firm hand on things and generally there is a logical coherence to events with in the terms of the film itself. The cast are solid. Nicholas Gonzalez is Felix Fojas, a failed seminarian and paranormal investigator. He and John Churchill as Sheriff Roy Garland enjoy a lot of screen time, and both are plausible and develop an engaging depth to their characters. There are several sub-plots involving dead wives and their various relationships whilst alive and their effect on relationships of those left behind. They kick the storyline along. There are nuns, priests and ministers a plenty. There is even an Amish like presence! You could spend time working out which denomination who belongs to or you could just accept their presence as a counter to demonic forces. It's to the credit of everyone involved that the religious aren't mocked. There is a nun who uses unusual teaching methods, but she serves to advance the plot, not represent current teaching practices in Catholic schools. Don't be mislead, this is a horror movie not one of those covert Christian movies. I have no problem with Christian movies, The Shack is a great film, as long as they declare themselves as such. Special effects in Evil Takes Root are 'old school' but effective. The climax is only a little lacklustre but it does work and there is a hint in the concluding seconds that a sequel could be considered. Overall, a watchable and worthwhile 91 minutes.

Saw this little number last night. Now I had never heard of this film and knew nothing about it, so I settled down and gave it a go. Firstly I knew it was a lower budget affair but that doesn't bother me if the film is good, I have seen my fair share of low budget horror films. Secondly the acting wasn't to bad in the while film so that was a nice surprise. The story itself was okay and it went at a quick pace, so you weren't bogged down by the story. The effects for the most part were good. I didn't think much if the ending but I knew I wouldn't watch it again, so that was okay. One of the best parts was Stevie Lynn Jones in a wet vest but maybe that was just me. Not a great film but not bad. Worth a watch if you have nothing better to see.

The film started off with pretty good production quality, unlike other b-type films, so I was hoping this would be a hidden gem, but 30 minutes into the movie it began to feel like a series of disconnected bits of story, or maybe just random bits of different stories? A witch type looking creature in a hood? Ok, this must be the villain! But wait- what is this scary looking tree monster? A high school aged girl loses her mom to... a curse? Or just bad luck? I dunno, it doesn't really explain it. Another high school girl also loses her mom, but again the reasons aren't clear, and for some reason she lives with her uncle who is a priest. Wait, the mom of one of the girls had a boyfriend? Are these girls related or something? The connection between them seems to be nonexistent. A flash of a scene where a girl is holding a bloody clump of hair, followed by a flash of a scene of the OTHER girl having nightmares. A flash of a scene of a dog with red eyes. Are these scenes significant in some way?? Your guess is as good as mine. For some reason, there's a black Catholic priest, with a heavy African accent. But then there's also a white Catholic priest, but are they from the same church? Do they know each other? I'm not sure. They each are in different scenes with one of the dads of one of the girls who lost their mothers, but if they know each other or something, it's undefined, like dividing by zero. One of the girls is deaf, and speaks sign language. The other takes sign language classes at school. Do these girls know each other?? What does this have to do with anything else in the movie? Apparently nothing, I guess it's just there to character build? Although to be honest, it's a pretty weak storyline. It doesn't appear that these two girls even know each other. Then, at the end, the fathers and the priests converge with the boyfriend of one of the dead mothers (it's weird because they're all just like, all together, all of a sudden) and they do some sort of exorcism or something, and the boyfriend scribbles some stuff on a tree and walks away and not even two minutes later some construction guys come along and cut down the tree (apparently releasing the demon). It's really a waste of time to watch this movie,m even if you are a person who likes terrible horror movies.

The redeeming scene is bunch of naked girls chasing that wimp in the forest.

Either I'm having de ja vu or this is a remake or at least a story that has been before. I knew everything before it happened, even the character's names. Am I insane or was this actually released a few years ago under another name?

Evil takes Root is based upon Philippino folklore and at first I did not understand what was going on. The DVD commintary help to clearify the confusion of Batibat and the production quality right up. As stated in the DVD commintary by several of the producers they had many challenges to overcome with getting this film into the public eye. They struggled with major financial setbacks, lost or not recorded scenes and audio, and having to find and reshoot years later at the original locations or similar locations. The production was able to coble together something that resembles what they had envision besides the losses both due to unforeseen circumstances and oversights of their own. Watch the film and then watch it again with the commintary it is infinatly better then just watching the film on its own.

Not scary nor well plotted. Acting is mediocre and plotting is basic, in a boring way. Tired interpersonal conflicts of marriage, infidelity, and faith. Characters are crudely one dimensional. Weak film trying to cash in one trend of spooky movies, possession films, and good versus evil studies. And it does it poorly. Nothing here to rent. If you like these types of films, watch if for free only.

I left the room while it was playing to do dishes, didnt even bother to pause it. Stopped it a half hour before the end. Couldn't care less about anyone or anything. Hard pass.