Honestly, most people who stumble across the movie Way of the Wicked while scrolling through a streaming service probably expect a generic, paint-by-numbers supernatural thriller. You know the type. A brooding teenager moves to a small town, weird things start happening, and everyone blames the new kid. On the surface, this 2014 flick directed by Kevin Carraway checks every single one of those boxes. But if you actually sit through it, there’s a weird, gritty texture to it that most modern low-budget horror lacks. It’s got Christian Slater playing a priest, which is always a chaotic choice, and a plot that pivots from "teen drama" to "biblical apocalypse" faster than you can say "amen."
The film follows Robbie, played by Vinnie Bennett, a kid who returns to his hometown after a mysterious five-year absence following the death of a bully. Naturally, the local cop—played by Vinnie Jones, who looks like he’s perpetually about to headbutt someone—is convinced the kid is literally the devil. Or at least something adjacent to it. It’s a classic setup. The tension isn't just about whether Robbie is a killer; it's about the town's collective trauma and how they project their fears onto an outsider. It's a trope as old as Carrie or The Omen, but movie Way of the Wicked tries to play it with a straighter face than you’d expect.
The Christian Slater Factor and Why It Works
Let's talk about Slater. In the mid-2010s, he was in that specific career phase where he was popping up in everything from Nymphomaniac to various direct-to-DVD thrillers before his big resurgence in Mr. Robot. In this movie, he plays Father Henry. He isn't your typical "holy man." He’s paranoid. He’s obsessive. He’s the one driving the supernatural narrative forward while the rest of the cast is trying to solve a standard murder mystery.
Slater brings a certain level of gravitas that the movie desperately needs. Without him, the film might have drifted into "after-school special" territory. He spends a lot of time whispering in dark corners and looking through old books, which is basically the requirement for any priest in a horror movie, but he does it with that signature Slater smirk that makes you wonder if his character is actually sane. The contrast between his frantic energy and Vinnie Jones’s stoic, grumpy detective creates a strange dynamic. It’s like two different movies are happening at the same time. One is a gritty police procedural about a grieving father, and the other is a high-stakes battle against the Antichrist. Somehow, they meet in the middle.
Breaking Down the Plot Twist That Everyone Hates (Or Secretly Loves)
Most viewers go into the movie Way of the Wicked thinking it’s a story about bullying and psychological trauma. For the first sixty minutes, it really feels that way. Robbie is the loner. Heather (Emily Tennant) is the girl who sees the good in him despite her father's warnings. It’s very Twilight-adjacent but with less shimmering and more blood.
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Then the third act hits.
The movie takes a hard left turn into full-blown theological horror. Throughout the film, there are these "accidents." People who mess with Robbie tend to die in horrific, seemingly coincidental ways. A car jack slips. A fire starts. The movie plays with the idea of "The Evil Eye" or a "cursed existence." But the ending—which I won't spoil in granular detail for the three people who haven't seen it—reveals a much larger, more ancient conspiracy. It moves the goalposts. Suddenly, we aren't talking about a troubled kid in a small town; we are talking about destiny, prophecy, and the literal end of days.
This is where the film loses a lot of people. Critics at the time, and many users on Letterboxd today, argue the twist feels unearned. It’s jarring. One minute you’re watching a grounded drama about a girl falling for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and the next, Father Henry is shouting about the apocalypse. However, if you rewatch it, the breadcrumbs are there. The dialogue is littered with references to "the way" and "the path." It’s subtle—maybe too subtle—but it’s there.
Production Value and the Vancouver Aesthetic
If the movie looks familiar, it’s because it was filmed in British Columbia. This gives it that specific "Pacific Northwest" gloom that became the industry standard for thrillers in the 2010s. The lighting is desaturated. Everything looks a bit cold.
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Director Kevin Carraway, who also worked with Slater on The River Murders, clearly knows how to stretch a budget. The special effects are minimal, relying more on practical stunts and clever editing than CGI. This was a smart move. When low-budget horror movies try to use heavy CGI for supernatural elements, they usually end up looking like a PlayStation 2 game. By keeping the "accidents" grounded in reality, the movie Way of the Wicked maintains a sense of unease. You’re never quite sure if what you’re seeing is divine intervention or just really bad luck.
Why Does It Still Get Searched for Today?
It’s a fair question. The movie wasn’t a box office smash. It didn't win any Oscars. Yet, it remains a staple of "Recommended for You" lists on platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, and Amazon Prime.
- The Vinnie Jones/Christian Slater Combo: This is a "dad movie" dream team. You have the British tough guy and the 90s icon. That alone is enough to get someone to click "play" on a Friday night.
- The Mystery Element: Unlike a lot of slashers where you know who the killer is immediately, this movie keeps the "is he or isn't he" tension alive for a long time.
- The Ending: Love it or hate it, people talk about the ending. It’s the kind of "WTF" moment that leads to Google searches like "Way of the Wicked ending explained."
Actually, the search interest usually spikes every time it hits a new free streaming service. It’s the ultimate "passive" watch. You can fold laundry while watching it, but then that final twenty minutes grabs your attention and refuses to let go. It’s a movie that rewards people who like "B-movies" that have "A-movie" ambitions.
Acknowledging the Flaws: It’s Not a Masterpiece
Look, I’m an expert on this stuff, and I’m not going to sit here and tell you this is The Exorcist. It’s not. The pacing can be sluggish in the middle. Some of the teenage dialogue feels like it was written by someone who hasn't spoken to a teenager since 1994. There are logic gaps you could drive a truck through. For instance, the police work in this town is borderline nonexistent. Vinnie Jones’s character basically just spends the whole movie being angry rather than actually investigating anything.
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But there’s a sincerity to it. It doesn't wink at the camera. It’s not "meta" or "ironic." In an era where every horror movie is trying to be a social commentary or a clever deconstruction of the genre, the movie Way of the Wicked is just a dark, weird tale about the devil. There's something refreshing about that.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re going to dive into this, go in with the right expectations. Don’t expect a high-octane action flick despite Vinnie Jones being on the poster. It’s a slow-burn mystery.
- Watch the background: There are several scenes where Robbie is just there, watching, in a way that feels very Michael Myers-esque.
- Listen to Father Henry’s sermons: Slater’s dialogue contains most of the foreshadowing for the ending. If you ignore him, the twist will feel like it came out of nowhere.
- Pay attention to the deaths: Each one mirrors a specific type of "judgment." It’s not random.
Final Verdict on the Experience
The movie Way of the Wicked is a fascinating relic of the early 2014 indie horror scene. It captures a moment when mid-range stars were still anchoring these types of "elevated" B-movies before the "A24 style" took over the genre. It’s a mix of religious dread and small-town paranoia that actually manages to stick the landing if you’re willing to go along with its internal logic.
Next time you’re looking for something to watch and you see Christian Slater’s face on a thumbnail, give it a chance. It’s weird, it’s slightly confusing, and it’s definitely darker than you think it’s going to be. Just don't expect a happy ending. This isn't that kind of story.
To get the most out of your viewing, try to find the unrated version if possible, as the theatrical cut trims some of the more impactful practical effects that make the "accidents" truly unsettling. Once you've finished, compare the ending to other "Omen-style" films—you'll notice that Way of the Wicked actually tries to subvert the "chosen one" trope in a way that most big-budget films are too scared to attempt. Search for the director's commentary if you can find a physical copy; it sheds a lot of light on how they managed the stunts with such a limited budget.