Oddity is a 2024 paranormalhorror film written and directed by Damian Mc Carthy. The film centers on a blind medium and curio shopkeeper who is still grieving the death of her twin sister a year prior. A wooden mannequin from her cabinet of curiosities becomes crucial to her quest to uncover the truth about her sister's murder.[1][2]
It premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2024, where it won the Audience Award in the Midnighter section of the festival.[3]
The film was shot in the same converted barn in West Cork, County Cork, Ireland, as Mc Carthy's first film, Caveat. Mc Carthy was developing Oddity at the same time he was working on Caveat.[5]
Effects artist Paul McDonnell created the life-size wooden mannequin with input from Mc Carthy.[1] Mc Carthy cites films like Child's Play and Creepshow as influences. "I'm a big fan of those old 'doll comes to life' films," he said in 2024. "But they're always small, and I thought it would be cool to have one that's your size, that would be a force to reckon with if it did come alive."[5]
Mc Carthy, who frequently browses antique stores, acquired many of the props for the film himself.[5]
The character Olin Boole was the subject of Mc Carthy's 2013 short film How Olin Lost His Eye, which explores the character's backstory.[6]
In February 2024, Blue Finch Films acquired the international distribution rights for the film.[7] The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2024.[5] It won the Audience Award in the Midnighter section of the festival.[3] It won the Audience Award for Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival in April 2024.[8]
