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Horror film

When Evil Lurks (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

When Evil Lurks (2023) movie poster

When Evil Lurks is a 2023 horror film directed by Demián Rugna, starring Ezequiel Rodríguez as Pedro, Luis Ziembrowski and Desirée Salgueiro. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $2.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.

IMDb rating
6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
worldwide gross
$2.1M
Echo Score
77
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When Evil Lurks (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
Demián Rugna
Genre
Horror
Original language
Spanish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is When Evil Lurks About?

The premise of When Evil Lurks without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

In a remote village, two brothers discover a troubled individual poised to unleash an ancient evil. Their efforts to confront the dark force unexpectedly trigger a terrifying entity, condemning them to a haunting and inescapable ordeal. The brothers must now confront the consequences of their actions and fight to survive the escalating horror.

When Evil Lurks Themes & Keywords

· 45 tags
  • evil
  • demonic possession
  • autistic
  • gore
  • remote village
  • grindhouse film
  • autistic son
  • graphic violence
  • male nudity
  • goat
  • brother brother relationship
  • supernatural horror
+33 more
  • demonic evil
  • countryside town
  • malevolent entity
  • death
  • possession
  • autistic child
  • four word title
  • demonic entity
  • malevolent force
  • mutilation
  • evil entity
  • violence
  • run over by a car
  • woman beaten to death
  • man
  • father son relationship
  • gunshot
  • shower
  • pickup truck
  • breaking a car window
  • kicking a door open
  • axe to the head
  • hit by a car
  • wife kills her husband
  • pregnancy
  • breaking a window with one's elbow
  • violating a restraining order
  • husband kills his wife
  • death of pregnant woman
  • driving into a tree
  • restraining order
  • latin american horror
  • male rear nudity
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Cast & crew

When Evil Lurks Cast & Characters

Ezequiel Rodríguez leads the cast as Pedro, with Luis Ziembrowski as Ruiz and Desirée Salgueiro as Jimena. Directed by Demián Rugna; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in When Evil Lurks

· 6 more
From the director

More from Demián Rugna

More films directed by Demián Rugna, best-rated first: Terrified, Satanic Hispanics, You Don’t Know Who You’re Talking To and Cursed Bastards!.

Full filmography
Ratings

When Evil Lurks Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave When Evil Lurks 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in character & emotion (50).

77 /100

When Evil Lurks Echo Score Breakdown

In terms of overall impact, When Evil Lurks excels in delivering an unsettling and original horror experience but is hampered by uneven pacing and sparse character depth. Critics widely commend its innovative approach to folk horror, rule-breaking violence, and relentless tension, while several audience members note a gradual slowdown in the second half and occasional narrative confusion. The film’s visceral imagery and bold storytelling make a strong impression, though inconsistencies in flow and character motivation temper its lasting effectiveness.

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

  • Art & Craft 88

    Art & Craft in When Evil Lurks stands out for its confident camera work and vivid production design. Reviewers highlight Demián Rugna’s ability to frame unsettling tableaux and deploy misdirection through editing choices that sustain dread. Critics also note an occasional slowdown in visual momentum during the film’s second half. Overall, the film demonstrates strong aesthetic control with minor pacing inconsistency.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, the film delivers a tense communal dynamic but suffers from inconsistent character development. Comments frequently cite moments where characters make implausible choices that undermine emotional investment. However, a core sense of distrust within the community and occasional nuanced interactions lend some depth. In sum, character depth remains uneven, balancing effective atmosphere with weak development.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of Story & Flow, When Evil Lurks impresses with its original folk-horror premise and engaging central conflict but encounters uneven pacing and narrative clarity issues. Early sequences sustain tension and novelty, yet the latter third shifts into exposition-heavy scenes that introduce unresolved plot elements and convenient developments. Overall, the film’s inventive concept is somewhat undercut by uneven momentum and occasional confusion.

  • Sensory Experience 87

    The Sensory Experience in When Evil Lurks is notably immersive, combining a visceral score with unflinching gore to sustain relentless tension. Critics acclaim the film’s ability to startle through disciplined sound design and impactful practical effects, while a minority of viewers mention inconsistent audio quality in certain dialogues. Altogether, the film delivers a potent sensory assault, tempered only by occasional sound recording irregularities.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    When considering Rewatch Factor, the film offers moments of unforgettable brutality that may entice horror enthusiasts to revisit it. Several critics describe its relentless atmosphere as compelling upon subsequent viewings, though the pacing slowdown and sparse character motivation can lessen its replay appeal for broader audiences. Ultimately, the film possesses strong niche rewatch value but may not sustain repeated viewings for all viewers.

Plot

When Evil Lurks Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in When Evil Lurks from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As dawn breaks over a grim landscape, Pedro and Jaime are abruptly awakened by the piercing sound of gunfire reverberating in the nearby woods. Driven by curiosity, they venture out to investigate, only to unearth a horrifying scene - the mangled remains of a man’s body. This shocking discovery leads them to a dilapidated shack, where they find María Elena, an elderly woman, along with her two terrified sons. Among them is Uriel, the eldest son who has fallen victim to becoming a “Rotten,” a wretched state brought on by an unborn demon waiting to manifest. The corpse they found was that of a “Cleaner,” a desperate individual summoned by María Elena in hopes of ending Uriel’s impending possession and averting disaster for others.

Full summary

The whole story of When Evil Lurks, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

When Evil Lurks Box Office

When Evil Lurks grossed $2.1 million worldwide. $546,626 came from the US and Canada and $1.5 million (74%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.1M

US & Canada
$546.6K
International
$1.5M
US & Canada 26% Rest of the world 74%
Videos

When Evil Lurks Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 clip.

Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Teaser The Scariest Film of the Year
  • Clip Official Clip "Don't Do It!"
Quiz

How Well Do You Know When Evil Lurks?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What disturbing discovery do Pedro and Jaime make in the woods?

Details

When Evil Lurks Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Коли зло ховається” and “وقتی شیطان در کمین است”.

Also known as
  • Коли зло ховається
  • وقتی شیطان در کمین است
  • Quando O Mal Chega
  • Zlo si umí počkat
  • Quando o Mal Espreita
  • Одержимые злом
  • 当邪恶潜伏时
  • O Mal que Nos Habita
  • Amikor a gonosz leselkedik
  • Ác Quỷ Ẩn Mình
  • Kad zlo vreba
  • Gdy rodzi się zło
+10 more
  • 邪染小鎮
  • 악이 도사리고 있을 때
  • Ko je zlo na preži
  • כשהרוע אורב
  • When Evil Lurks – paha vaanii
  • Εκεί που το Κακό Παραμονεύει
  • ปีศาจ ลวง ตาย
  • Tykantis blogis
  • Когато злото дебне
  • 邪悪なるもの

Seen When Evil Lurks?

FAQ

When Evil Lurks FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of When Evil Lurks, each answered in a sentence.

How long is When Evil Lurks?

When Evil Lurks runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was When Evil Lurks released?

When Evil Lurks was released on October 6, 2023.

Who directed When Evil Lurks?

When Evil Lurks was directed by Demián Rugna.

More films by Demián Rugna

Who is in the cast of When Evil Lurks?

When Evil Lurks stars Ezequiel Rodríguez as Pedro, Luis Ziembrowski as Ruiz and Desirée Salgueiro as Jimena, among 10 credited actors.

How much did When Evil Lurks make at the box office?

When Evil Lurks grossed $2.1 million worldwide ($546,626 domestic, $1.5 million international).

How is When Evil Lurks rated?

When Evil Lurks has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.

Does When Evil Lurks have a post-credit scene?

No. When Evil Lurks has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is When Evil Lurks in?

The original language of When Evil Lurks is Spanish.

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