In what feels like a prelude to a Blumhouse release, Cameron Gallagher’s 5-minute young adult horror The Undoing manages to cast a suitably chilling spell and doesn’t resort to cheap jump scares either!
Rose (Sarah Hallisey), Marsha (Elizabeth Mcfly), Tay (Hunter Frederick), and Kelly (Heather Frederick) are having a run-of-the-mill high school slumber party when an old spell book is brought out for them to delve into. This Ouija board stand-in is filled with occult symbols and ancient incantations, possessing the supernatural ability to undo anything. And as the game begins, it becomes clear that Marsha might be harboring ill will towards her friends.
It’s a simple premise that deserves praise for not overindulging itself in genre tropes. The film relies almost entirely on atmosphere to do the heavy lifting, and in that regard, it absolutely succeeds. The performances are also commendable, with all four actors making the most of their screen time, with Mcfly in particular leaving a strong impression as Marsha.
If there ever was something missing from The Undoing, it would have to be a longer runtime. With the complex backstories of these characters and the mysterious nature of the spell book, it’s a little underwhelming to see it all unfold in medias res. Even still, it leaves viewers with more questions than answers and an ending that could springboard its fantastic concept to greater heights.
