Nocebo wags these tired archetypes in the audience’s face, but what’s encouraging about the film is that there’s a level of authenticity here that comes from Filipino screenwriter, Garrett Shanley. The horror of the “other” has unfortunately been alive and well in the horror genre for decades. Nocebo is technically a fantasy horror movie, but so much of its material examines the survival of capitalism through the exploitation–and vilification–of overseas workers, which in this case narrows in on Filipino culture. Recent horror movies like Barbarian are proof that viewers can be patient when it comes to answers and while Nocebo never reaches those heights, it still goes out on a surprising turn that’s likely to leave more audiences satisfied than aggravated.
A lot of Nocebo’s success relies upon not only if audiences buy into this central relationship, but if the payoff of where this all goes is actually worth the effort. Nocebo lives in the tension of whether Christine actually hired Diana or if this helper has significantly more sinister intentions. This simplistic existence spins off its axis when a caregiver, Diana ( Chai Fonacier ), shows up–seemingly out of nowhere–and becomes the essential godsend that Christine never knew she was missing. Nocebo begins in fairly familiar territory as Christine ( Eva Green ) and her husband Felix ( Mark Strong ) go about their ordinary, albeit overworked lives while they attempt to provide their son with the best that life has to offer. Night Shyamalan’s Servant meets The Babadook meets Inside. It’s a powerful gut punch of a film that feels like M. There is no shortage of evil nanny or creepy kid horror movies, but Lorcan Finnegan’s Nocebo strives for something more with this surreal, visceral Irish/Filipino hybrid horror story that contains some of the most haunting visuals of the year.
Parenthood–whether it’s the stresses that surround this responsibility or the idea that someone else doesn’t deserve it–is subject matter that frequently finds itself at the center of the horror genre. These fundamental connections can push the most ordinary of individuals to do impossible things. There are few bonds that are more innate and eternal than those between family. Lorcan Finnegan’s ‘Nocebo’ subverts the wicked nanny subgenre with a haunting horror story with a ruthless, relevant message.
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