Horror movie The Wretched sneaks to number one during lockdown – Metro.co.uk

The Wretched has so far grossed over $200,000 (Picture: IFC Films)

James Bond, Disneys Mulan and A Quiet Place II are among the movies that were forced to pull their release dates as the coronavirus outbreak spread worldwide back in March.

But a low-budget horror movie has snuck in and taken their spot. The Wretched is enjoying its third week at number one at the US box office and no one saw it coming.

The movie industry is slowly coming back to life with drive-in cinemas reopening across North America.

Its meant that The Wretched has been able to hold screenings with very little competition. According to Variety, the horror made a further $85,000 (68,800) last weekend bringing its grand box office earnings so far to $296,954 (240,874).

The Wretched, written and directed by Brett Pierce and Drew T Pierce, follows a young boy who discovers an evil witch in the nearby woods. It stars John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Zarah Mahler, Azie Tesfai and Jamison Jones.

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Although it first premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival back in 2019, it only opened at the beginning of May and clearly picked its timing well.

So far, the horror has received an impressive rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes with one review describing it as a a chilling, by-the-numbers, summer-vacation supernatural horror pic.

Another reviewer agreed: Theres a good balance of firmness and entertaining. Creepy thrills and atmospheric chills, for a pretty modest horror film I thought it did the job pretty well.

However, another noted: Although it had promise in the first few scenes, The Wretched is crushed under the weight of a myriad of horror-film clichs sprinkled throughout.

Addressing the surge in popularity of drive-in cinemas, Comscores senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said: If you need evidence that the big screen communal moviegoing experience remains appealing to audiences, you need look no further than the excitement surrounding drive-in theaters in North America and around the globe as movie lovers are rediscovering a pastime of a bygone era that now, in the age of COVID-19 is particularly relevant, essential and yes, modern.

So, while the rest of Hollywood sleeps, The Wretched reaps.

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Horror movie The Wretched sneaks to number one during lockdown - Metro.co.uk

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero