Little Evil

Little Evil is an American horror-comedy film released in 2017, directed by Eli Craig and featuring a comedic ensemble led by Adam Scott, Evangeline Lilly, and Owen Atlas. It is available for streaming on Netflix.

In this clever twist on horror, the film follows protagonist Gary Bloom, played by Adam Scott, who is a newlywed struggling to connect with his stepson Lucas, played by Owen Atlas. Gary, a level-headed everyman, recently married Samantha, the love of his life, portrayed by Evangeline Lilly, and is committed to making their new family work despite Lucas's unique and troubling behavior.

Evangeline Lilly's Samantha is a puritanical woman, deeply caring and devotional towards her son above everything else. Despite the odd laconism and dark tendencies of Lucas, Samantha views him through rose-colored glasses and considers him a perfect child.

Lucas is a peculiar, quiet child with a vacant stare that gives people an uncanny vibe. As the film unveils, Lucas exhibits unexpected and potentially dangerous traits that cause audiences to question whether it's just a kid being mischievous or if there's something far more worrisome at play. Owen Atlas performs this role brilliantly, delivering a character that is as fascinating as he is chilling.

Adam Scott’s Gary is a grounded, likable character who serves as the audience's stand-in. He is as bewildered as anyone might be when his life starts spiraling into the surreal. As Gary attempts to foster a relationship with Lucas, he begins to notice Lucas is not like other children and becomes suspicious. Uneventful family activities and obstacles you'd typically find in a stepdad-stepson relationship take a sharp, comedic, and eerie twist.

The movie cleverly plays with the tropes of the horror genre while infusing comedy within its plot, creating a lively blend of fright and laughter. It demonstrates Eli Craig's adeptness at surrogate parenting challenges while spicing up a run-of-the-mill horror flick. The film uses creative storytelling and cinematics, paired with comedic timing, to create suspenseful scenes that are unexpectedly lighthearted.

In one specific instance, a seemingly normal activity like a children’s birthday party morphs into a raucous comedy-horror set-piece that leaves viewers both laughing and gasping. The film also includes a hilarious support group for stepdads that Gary joins. This group provides comic relief, but also brings emotional depth to Gary's struggles to understand and connect with Lucas.

The script is filled with sharp, amusing dialogues, where casual conversations often take strange and funny turns. Adding to these are performances from an ensemble cast that includes Bridget Everett, Donald Faison, and Chris D'Elia, all of whom deliver standout performances.

Craig treats the stepfather-stepson dynamic with a sense of humor, yet maintaining a sense of emotional sincerity. The movie provides commentary on modern parenting and the difficulties faced by step-parents, woven seamlessly into a horror-comedy plot.

One more characteristic of Little Evil is its fantastic sound design and an eerily whimsical music score, which adds an essential layer to its horror-comedy atmosphere. Craig effectively combines evocative visual storytelling, a strong script, and chilling soundscapes to create an engaging cinematic experience.

The film's atmosphere teeters between a spooky horror movie and a laugh-out-loud comedy. Even when Little Evil veers into the world of supernatural horror, the infusion of relatable comedy makes it an accessible film for those who aren't die-hard horror fans. It’s not a movie that will keep you up at night with terror, but one that will likely have you laughing even in its most intense moments.

Little Evil is equally a family drama as it is a comedy and horror flick. Through its extraordinary narrative, it illustrates the trials and tribulations of becoming a step-parent, communicating the message that families can be complicated and challenging, even without the supernatural elements. It’s as much a movie about possession and the supernatural as it is about being a new parent and learning how to navigate through that world.

It's an entertaining blend of quirky comedy and horror, offering laughs and scares in equal measure. Packed with outlandish humor, offbeat characters, and unexpected twists, Little Evil proves a thoroughly enjoyable and distinctly original take on horror-comedy. It is a must-watch for those comedic horror fans who want something different, for those who enjoy seeing family drama, or for anyone who enjoys an easy watch combined with a good laugh.