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Horror thriller

Evil Takes Root (2020): Cast & Ratings

Evil Takes Root (2020) movie poster

Evil Takes Root is a 2020 horror thriller directed by Chris W. Freeman, starring Michelle Ng Mini as Batibat (voice), Logan Fry and Thomas Downey. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes. Its Echo Score is 51/100.

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Evil Takes Root (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Chris W. Freeman
Genres
Horror , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Evil Takes Root About?

The premise of Evil Takes Root without spoilers.

A paranormal investigator travels to a quiet Midwestern town to uncover the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of his former lover and confront past regrets. His investigation reveals that she was claimed by the Batibat, an ancient and malevolent entity originating from the Philippines. He must now confront this supernatural force and the secrets it has unearthed.

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Cast & crew

Evil Takes Root Cast & Characters

Michelle Ng Mini leads the cast as Batibat (voice), with Logan Fry as Background - Amish Man and Thomas Downey as Father Weller. Directed by Chris W. Freeman; 75 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Evil Takes Root

· 71 more
Show all 75 cast members
Ratings

Evil Takes Root Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 51/100, strongest in art & craft (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (35).

51 /100

Evil Takes Root Echo Score Breakdown

The film delivers a modestly entertaining horror experience but falls short of leaving a lasting impression. Reviewers praise practical creature effects and occasional decent direction, yet criticize a muddled plot, uneven acting, and limited rewatch value. While the mythological premise involving the batibat adds some originality, the execution suffers from incoherent storytelling and thin character development, which diminish the film's overall impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    The art and craft show moments of competence amidst overall roughness. Practical creature effects are highlighted as effective, and direction is described as decent with solid pacing. However, production setbacks resulted in lost scenes and inconsistent visual quality, revealing a patchy execution. Overall, the craftsmanship lands in a moderate range.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    Character work is uneven, offering occasional solid performances but limited emotional depth. Some reviewers note the acting is good or well‑done, yet many describe performances as mediocre and characters as one‑dimensional with insufficient motivation. The lack of nuanced interaction hampers audience engagement. Consequently, the character score remains modest.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Narrative coherence is a major weakness in the film. Critics repeatedly call the plot messy, incoherent, and basic, pointing out dangling story threads and an unsatisfying ending. A few mentions note an interesting batibat mythos and brisk pacing, but these do not offset the structural flaws. The story thus scores below average.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    Sensory elements provide occasional highlights despite limited emphasis elsewhere. Reviewers praise practical effects and a degree of horror ambience that contribute to an engaging atmosphere. Sound design and visual polish receive little commentary, suggesting they are serviceable but unremarkable. Overall, the sensory experience is moderately positive.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    Rewatch appeal is low for most viewers. The majority of comments indicate the film lacks lasting scares and memorable moments, leading reviewers to state they would not view it again. One user mentions the DVD commentary enhances repeatability, but this exception does not substantially raise the overall replay value. Consequently, the rewatch factor scores poorly.

Videos

Evil Takes Root Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Evil Takes Root.

Evil Takes Root - The Curse of the Batibat - Arriving Sept 15
Details

Evil Takes Root Also Known As

3 alternative titles, including “Evil Takes Root the Curse of the Batibat” and “邪恶根源”.

Also known as
  • Evil Takes Root the Curse of the Batibat
  • 邪恶根源
  • Зло пускает корни

Seen Evil Takes Root?

FAQ

Evil Takes Root FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Evil Takes Root, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Evil Takes Root?

Evil Takes Root runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Evil Takes Root released?

Evil Takes Root was released on September 15, 2020.

Who directed Evil Takes Root?

Evil Takes Root was directed by Chris W. Freeman.

More films by Chris W. Freeman

Who is in the cast of Evil Takes Root?

Evil Takes Root stars Michelle Ng Mini as Batibat (voice), Logan Fry as Background - Amish Man and Thomas Downey as Father Weller, among 75 credited actors.

Does Evil Takes Root have a post-credit scene?

No. Evil Takes Root has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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