Shudder Secrets: History of Evil

Though History of Evil is set in 2045, its dystopian America feels like it could happen way sooner. In writer/director Bo Mirhosseni‘s film, militants roam the land, hunting for immigrants and citizens that are part of “the resistance.” Just before they execute or jail the innocent, they say a prayer. Meanwhile, there are checkpoints everywhere and extreme far-right radio shows that talk about “God and country.”

Sure, it can happen here. We’ve already seen images of migrants in cages during the first Trump administration. Meanwhile, Politico just reported that Trump’s allies plan to infuse Christian Nationalism into his second term, should he be re-elected in November. The hellscape History of Evil depicts increasingly feels like a real possibility.

Yet, what makes Mirhosseni’s film different than a political thriller is its use of a haunted house and familiar horror tropes. This is used not only for scares but also to underscore the political upheaval and dire stakes. The execution doesn’t always work, but the use of the haunted house does elevate the film beyond a generic thriller.

History of Evil’s Political Dystopia

The film begins with text explaining that it’s 2045. Far-right militias, supported by an authoritarian government, have overtaken the U.S. They justify their heinous acts in the name of God and country. I will note that in his director’s statement, Mirhosseni states that he was inspired by his parents’ experience during the Iranian Revolution of the 1970s and the country’s plunge into a theocracy. Mirhosseni’s parents have always been activists, so this film is very much inspired by their work.

After the general set-up, we’re introduced to Alegre (Jackie Cruz). She’s a writer on the run, whose recent book caused quite the uproar and made her the state’s public enemy #1. She’s assisted by her husband, Ron (Paul Wesley), and their daughter Daria (Murphee Bloom). The parents sneak their kid through various checkpoints by transporting her in a van, in a body bag, with a tracking device on her ankle. Yet, unfortunately, some of this seems tame compared to images of crowded migrant shelters, razor wire at the border in Texas, and kids in cages we’ve already seen.

From there, we see walls and armed men who make horrific comments about anyone with darker skin. Eventually, the family arrives at a safe spot, or so they think. It’s an old Colonial home meant to serve as a refuge temporarily. However, secrets lurk within its walls.

History of Evil’s Haunted House

History of Evil straddles two genres, political thriller and horror. It doesn’t quite sink into either quite far enough, but the haunted house premise intrigues, at least. The longer the family stays, the more a mysterious presence named Caine haunts Ron. He talks and acts like a Southener who refuses to acknowledge the South lost the war. He blames Alegre for all of Ron’s frustration. At one point, he says, “Don’t make your wife make you feel like less of a man.” It makes Ron question his role and his purpose, succumbing more and more to the evil influence and playing up the worst of his own masculinity.

The house’s effects on Ron continually reminded me of The Amityville Horror. More specifically, that house twists and warps patriarch George Lutz’s (James Brolin) thoughts until he nearly kills his family. There’s a similar effect going on here. Ron tries to fight the sinister influence, but it grows and grows. Both films also deal with masculinity and each patriarch feeling inadequate, to the point they have bouts of explosive anger and are keen on blaming their wives.

History of Evil may have worked better if it leaned into this genre more and some of is tropes, even if they’re familiar. Instead, it sometimes feels like the film isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. It suffers because of that.

Final Verdict

Overall, History of Evil doesn’t quite meld genres well, but there’s more good here than bad. The haunted house aspect shows promise and underscores the regression of Ron, a patriarchal figure who succumbs to the lure of his own privilege in a dystopian America. Perhaps the film’s most terrifying aspect is that the future it portrays doesn’t seem terribly far off or impossible.

History of Evil streams on Shudder starting February 23. Keep updated on the latest Shudder releases by following my Shudder Secrets column.