[Movie Review) They Wait in the Dark

The pandemic has only reinforced things I know about myself. I became a teacher because I wanted to have an impact on the next generation. It’s the teacher in me and, frankly one of the reasons I find horror so compelling. I am a softy for kids going through shit. They Wait in the Dark is exactly that. It presents a child in peril story with a local and supernatural twist.

The newest movie by writer/director Patrick Rea offers up Adrian, played by a doe-eyed Patrick McGee, a child on the run from one of his adoptive mothers Judith (Laurie Catherine Winkel). The film paints Judith as dangerous and violent and his other mother, Amy (Sarah McGuire), as his savior. Desperate to stay hidden, they take refuge in the abandoned farmhouse of Amy’s family outside her Kansas hometown. Soon, though, a supernatural force from Amy’s dark past begins haunting Adrian. With the vengeful Judith in pursuit, Amy and Adrian find themselves locked in a showdown between the threats both outside and in.

Local Kansas City actress Sarah McGuire who has shown up in a slew of Missouri-based horror films, including Below the Fold and The Stylist, anchors a movie deeply rooted in pathos. She has a haunted look that immediately evokes feelings of empathy. At the beginning of the film, the audience all believes we could be one bad day away from what she is going through. It is a strong performance for an actress who seems to be coming into her own.

The mystery and subsequent twist feel perfectly rooted in an aesthetic They Wait in the Dark shares with a few of the other films mentioned above. This new genre of film leans into the authenticity of the midwest but couples it with a patina of violence and, in this case, supernatural elements. Heartland Noir is a budding subgenre that harnesses the authentic people and stories of the midwest to speak to larger ideas. Rea and the artists deserve a ton of credit in helping shift the narrative. It may be flyover country to some but our stories matter. Especially if they are scary. Nothing can feel more authentic than shooting in places that the film references. Moreover, without giving away too much about the end of the film, They Wait uses a heinous true event that took place in Missouri to propel the characters along. They Wait in the Dark turns an infamous midwestern headline into a ghost story intent on exploring generational trauma.

McGuire’s character Amy plays a single mom running from an abusive relationship back to her hometown in Kansas. Poverty deserves recognition as a supporting cast member, as Amy’s move is prompted by her dire economic situation. The opening scene seems to share DNA with the bathroom scene in The Pursuit of Happyness. It’s the kids, man. McGee really shines as a child who has learned to deal but should not have to. As they settle into Amy’s once-abandoned family home, the horror starts. Judith happens to be the violent spouse Amy is running from as the evil within the farmhouse tries to outpace the malevolence Judith brings with her in her search of the fleeing Amy. If there is any issue with the movie, it might be that I loved the menacing qualities Judith brings to the table, and I wish I had more of that.

The fact that Patrick Rea has made a life in the midwest gives the entire film a heart and complexity in how it treats its location. We are given glimpses of why someone might want to stay in a small town (a VERY unpopular take in Hollywood right now). While it might be popular to treat midwestern small towns as MAGA carnivals full of clowns, poverty, and despair, Rea seems more concerned with treating all of his characters with dignity and respect, even those we may think do not deserve it. Especially those we may think don’t deserve it.

The movie definitely passes the Bechdel test in that the movie’s main plot interactions all take place between women. From romantic relationships to supportive friendly relationships, it is nice to see a movie so fully center the plot and development of a film on the lives of women we don’t always see in commercial films. The male characters are ancillary, and as a result, all of the women in the cast are given moments to shine.

At the center of the film is the relationship between Amy and her son Adrian (Patrick McGee). Adrian has been through some stuff and witnessed quite a bit, so when things take a turn, Adrian’s mood tends to be the canary in the coal mine. McGee chooses to play Adrian more as a warning siren than a helpless child, which in turn elevates the role and his performance. 

The end of the movie seems to draw inspiration from another favorite, Lake Mungo, where the ghosts of our pasts may wave goodbye but will likely be with us for a very long time. Its another impressive feature from Rea, and he should be lauded for telling stories on the big screen that may otherwise be forgotten. More Heartland Noir, please. They Wait in the Dark came out on February 7th. Check it out wherever you stream your movies.