With a title as straightforward as they come, the horror thriller “Itch!” gives you some idea of what you’re in for. Yet to his credit, writer-director Bari Kang has more on his mind than gripping tension and queasy body horror. He throws in a number of potentially meaningful themes. And while they do provide “Itch!” with some added weight, they don’t all work as intended. That leaves the movie to rely on good old-fashioned scares and suspense.
“Itch!” isn’t much into backstory or world-building. I’m guessing it’s partly due to the film’s limited budget. But it’s also something Kang isn’t especially interested in. Instead he crafts a more character-driven survival horror experience, set (mostly) within a tense single-location setting, and with a mysterious deadly threat that grows more terrifying as more is revealed about it. That’s the backbone of “Itch!”, and the movie works when it stays focused on its genre beats.
Kang also stars as Jay, a widowed single father whose young daughter Olivia (Olivia Kang), hasn’t spoken a word since her mother died. Jay helps run his father’s retail store in downtown New York City which is where the majority of the movie takes place. While his dad (Steven Alonte) stays home caring for his ailing wife, Jay mans the place with their long-time cashier Lisa (Mia Ventura Lucas).
But the tension sets in once we learn about a highly contagious outbreak that is spreading across the city at an alarming rate. Those infected fight an unbearable itch stemming from painful rashes that make their skin feel like it’s burning. We never learn the cause – is it medical, chemical, supernatural? But the setup creates as a harrowing scenario, especially once newscasts report hospitals are overwhelmed by self-inflicted injuries, airports are grounding all flights, and the more seriously infected are turning erratic and violent.
This comes fully into focus after a lady comes to Jay’s store covered in sores and screaming about an unbearable itch. Jay seals his store as more aggressive infected gather outside. With him is Olivia, Lisa, a panicking customer, Henry (Douglas Stirling), and a disgruntled former employee named Miguel (Patrick Michael Valley), along with his pregnant niece Gabriella (Ximena Uribe). Together the six attempt to survive the threats that lie both outside and within. Clashing personalities, fear, and paranoia become as dangerous as the deadly infection that threatens them all.
Unfortunately some of the characters do veer into archetype territory which slightly derails some of the drama. But the bigger hindrances are the various attempts at social commentary that rarely land as intended. The film has a pretty cynical point of view which manifests itself in several glaringly obvious ways. Whether it’s on-the-nose statements about the homeless and refugee communities, or a strangely out-of-the-blue reflection from Henry. There’s certainly nothing wrong with having something to say. But here the ham-fisted attempts mostly ring hollow.
Those few distractions aside, Kang does a terrific job keeping his audience fully engaged. And he impressively shows that you don’t need a big studio budget to do it. The tightening psychological tension itself is enough to keep us locked in. But Kang never forsakes the horror elements, using a cool variety of practical effects in creating some effectively bloody scares. And while not all of its messaging works, the blistering itch is a compelling and unsettling metaphor which gives this solid indie chiller an added jolt. “Itch!” is now available on VOD.
VERDICT – 3 STARS
Keith & the Movies 