Horror Movie Review: Ick (2024)

Directed by Joseph Kahn, who co-wrote the story with Dan Koontz and Samuel Laskey, Ick is a horror with dark comedy elements, and with a lot to like about it. It’s visually impressive, it has a strong cast, a fun mix of nostalgic horror references and modern life allegories, and plenty of energy. Yet, while all of these are positives, when put together, it actually results in something that gives you the ‘ick’. It’s a film that wants to be so many different things, least of all a throwback to the likes of Slither and The Faculty, but doesn’t have the story depth and detail to make it work.

It stars Brandon Routh as Hank, and we’re introduced to him as a high school icon in the town of Eastbrook, loving life, and for good reason. He’s good looking, the star of the school football team, has the most popular girl in town on his arm, Staci (Mena Suvari) and one hell of a bright future. That is until he suffers a career ending injury.

Cut down in his prime, Hank’s life slowly derails, losing his hopes, dreams, and even his girl, ending up teaching at the high school he controlled many years later. It’s there that he meets Grace (Malina Weissman), a teenager desperate to get the hell out of this dead-end town, and one who just so happens to be the daughter of his ex-girlfriend Staci.

All of this is told in energetic and vibrant style within the first few minutes, montage style. You see, Joseph Kahn is a huge name in the world of music video directing. Having worked with artists like Taylor Swift, Eminem, and Mariah Carey, to name but a few. So, it’s no surprise that a fast-paced music-oriented intro like this is so entertaining to watch. It’s also where the film introduces its ‘villain’, the Ick itself.

A mysterious parasitic, plant-like substance that has been gradually spreading itself throughout the town for years. As it’s harmless (mostly), the government doesn’t care, and even when it has tried to intervene, it has been met with resistance (COVID, get it? It’s one of many ‘on the nose’ references). The townspeople have just got used to living with it. Ain’t nobody going to tell them what they can and can’t do.

Things are changing though and the Ick is proving to be more dangerous than anyone ever expected. Of course, who realises this this first? Our hero Hank, who has the impossible job of convincing the town that they’re in danger, before it’s too late.

Brandon Routh’s Hank is so likable that his story is what makes Ick an initially compelling watch. His fall from grace is familiar, but done with heart and soul, and by not making him an overly pathetic character, his arc is engaging. He is the best thing about Ick, and his chemistry with the younger Malina Weissman (whose character grows nicely as the film goes on) is enjoyable. Together, they anchor the film and give it some weight, and it is needed as Ick is downright schizophrenic at times, with shallow characters all over the place, unexciting story-twists coming from all directions, and horror that has a serious tone, which doesn’t fit the overall vibe. It’s what ends up making the film so off-putting.

The whole film feels like its building to a big event, when the Ick stops being so placid and when it does become a problem, it does result in some enjoyable mayhem. However, as it spreads and our heroes stagger from one dangerous situation to another, it starts to become tired, ticking off trope after trope with a certain amount of malicious glee. Some of which comes across enormously heavy handed. The longer it goes on, the less momentum it has, and the less invested you’ll feel.

It is an enjoyable watch, and it does have plenty good about it, but the overall result is just ok.