Oddity Interview with Director Damian McCarthy

Oddity is the scariest horror movie of 2024. It crushed the film festival circuit, drawing acclaim at SXSW, Overlook, BiFan, and Fantasia Fest. The director, Damian McCarthy, took some time to talk with The Scariest Things to tell us about how he crafted the surprise horror hit of the year.

Pay attention, horror fans. Oddity stands to be the most memorable film of the year. Liz Williams first saw this at SXSW and raved about it. I caught this film at Overlook, and it blew me away, where it won best in show. Upon second viewing in the theaters, it proved to be EVEN BETTER. The movie offers captivating characters, a highly original murder whodunnit, and a satisfying revenge theme.

Damian McCarthy proved his mettle initially with the curious and equally original horror outing Caveat (see Joseph’s review here), but with his sophomore outing, he really hits his stride. Oddity is the combination of several stories that have been bouncing around McCarthy’s brain, and they combine to make a singular piece of complex storytelling that catches you by surprise. He turns expectations on their head, bending familiar tropes while respecting what horror audiences want.

He really understands how to use jump scares, and at least four of them in this movie had audiences gasping and shouting at my screenings. It astounds me that there haven’t been more horror movies featuring a golem/automaton at their center. I was able to recall The Golem, Old Chief Woodenhead from Creepshow 2, and Talos, the Bronze Giant from Jason and the Argonauts. All of these precedents pale compared to the Wooden Man. He is a construct for the ages.

I am so thrilled that McCarthy took the time to make the long-distance call from Cork, Ireland, to Portland to talk with me about this film. I think you will agree that the movie will have serious staying power once you see it.

Here is the Interview:

Oddity has been released in select theaters in the US. If it is still playing in theaters near you, go catch it. Shudder/AMC has picked up the streaming rights, but there is no release date yet. The MPAA gave Oddity an R-Rating for violence, some gore, and seriously scary moments. This movie would be appropriate viewing for strong-willed teenagers.