Podcast Summary:

Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Episode: Deep Cuts Horror Hit List #16 — “Oddity”
Date: October 16, 2025
Host(s): Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes

Overview & Main Theme

In this episode, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes continue their countdown of underrated horror favorites (“Deep Cuts Horror Hit List”) in the lead-up to Halloween, spotlighting “Oddity” as their #16 pick. They discuss why this 2024 Irish horror film—little known yet critically acclaimed—is a standout, breaking down its plot, style, performances, critical reception, and whom it’s best suited for.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Critical Acclaim and Underrated Status

• Near-Perfect Critical Reception:

  • Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 96%
  • Audience score: 77%

• Amy: "I don't think that's a movie that a lot of people just would be able to quickly recall or know of or remember. Oddly, it's not a movie that's on a lot of people's radar and yet it's so good." [03:24]

• T.J.: "It's a rare, almost a quiet movie that has a bunch of jump scares... They're creepy, crawly moments of just subtle movements that scare the hell out of you." [05:24]

2. Plot and Atmosphere

• Synopsis Recap (Amy):

  • “When Danny is brutally murdered at the remote country house…her blind twin sister Darcy, a self-proclaimed psychic and collector of cursed items, pays an unexpected visit to Ted (Danny’s husband) and his new girlfriend Yana, convinced there’s more to the murder than people know.” [04:06]
  • Darcy brings dangerous cursed objects to exact revenge.

• Setting:

  • Irish countryside, in a massive, remote, partly-renovated “farm castle house.”
  • “It needs to be remote, it needs to be dark, it needs to be old. It needs to be creepy. All of that stuff adds to these relics.” — T.J. [07:41]

• Atmospheric Qualities:

  • Quiet, slow-burn with “smart little subtle” scares.
  • “There are so many twists and turns…maybe it was a little bit too much of a slow burn because the audience score is 77%, which is still really high, but it pales in comparison…” — Amy [05:05]

3. Performances and Direction

• Standout Actress: Carolyn Bracken plays both twins.

  • “She’s playing a blind woman, but she is carrying herself with this…very subtle and understated strength and rage…she delivers it almost in a deadpan way.” — T.J. & Amy [20:31–20:50]
  • “I think she should be nominated, or she should have been…” — Amy [20:50]

• Direction & Irish Roots:

  • Directed by Damian McCarthy.
  • All set/shot in Ireland with an Irish cast and crew, adding “feels” and authenticity. [06:42]

4. Style & Subgenre Blend

• Genre Hybridity:

  • “Oddity is a ghost story, a whodunit, a jump scare freakout, a twisty slow-burn psycho thriller, and a revenge saga all wrapped into one taut little horror film.” — from a critic, read by Amy [09:08]

• Notable Approach:

  • Eschews* obvious jump scares for subtle, creeping dread (“gradual escalation, unease, and accretion of unnerving details”). [10:16]
  • “You really do have to be watching to catch some of these scary moments. There is one in particular that I get chills when I even think about it. It’s so creepy.” — Amy [08:37]

• Home Invasion Sequences:

  • “It shines brightest in masterfully crafted home invasion scenes, which contain some of the most suspenseful movie moments of the year.” [10:34]

5. Why the Film Resonates (According to Hosts & Critics)

• “Every moment kept us wanting to watch the next moment. We got more and more interested, invested, and curious.” — T.J. [12:54]
• “The acting and cinematography alone are just worth a watch.” — Amy [13:08]
• “It made our list because of the incredible acting, phenomenal plot twists, and it really keeps you guessing.” — Amy [19:38]
• Not just supernatural: also explores revenge, family trauma, relationship tension. [20:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s a rare, almost a quiet movie that has a bunch of jump scares… They’re creepy, crawly moments of just subtle movements that scare the hell out of you.”
  — T.J. Holmes [05:24]

• “If I have a drink, whether it’s water or wine, I have to put it down because I will spill my drink on a movie like this.”
  — Amy Robach [05:42]

• “An elegant and spooky ghost story punctuated with clever jolts, Oddity hues to the fundamentals of fright and achieves shout-inducing results.”
  — Read by Amy, from critics consensus [08:03]

• “Oddity is a ghost story, a whodunit, a jump scare freakout, a twisty slow-burn psycho thriller, and a revenge saga all wrapped into one taut little horror film.”
  — Critic quote, read by Amy [09:08]

• Negative Audience Review Reaction:

  • “That was somebody on their phone while the movie was on in the background.” — T.J. [12:38]

• Praise from audiences:

  • “It was pure art… One of the best films of my life, if not the best.” — Amy, quoting audience review [13:13]
  • “The film’s terror takes many forms, each more tantalizingly unbearable until the final flawless frame.” — Amy [13:43]

• On who should watch:

  • “If you are looking for an elevated horror movie… You want mystery, intrigue, who done it? This is your movie.” — Amy [20:50–21:22]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• (02:50) — Episode proper begins; intro to "Oddity" pick.
• (04:06) — Film synopsis and set-up.
• (05:05–05:52) — Audience vs. critic scores, slow-burn pacing, personal ratings.
• (06:43–07:41) — Film setting; Irish location, cast, and director.
• (08:03–08:28) — Critics’ consensus; “clever jolts.”
• (09:08) — Critic review blending subgenres.
• (10:16) — Subtleties in the film's scares.
• (12:12–13:52) — Reacting to negative reviews and highlighting audience praise.
• (19:38–20:15) — Why it made their list; acting and plot twists.
• (20:31–20:50) — Carolyn Bracken’s performance as both twins.
• (21:22–22:41) — Who the film is/isn’t for.
• (23:03–23:03+) — Suggestions for viewing environment and food/drink pairings.
• (24:55) — Teaser for the next episode/movie.

Who Should Watch "Oddity"?

• For Fans of:

  • Elevated horror, slow-burn psychological thrillers, twisty plots, chilling atmospheric horror.
  • Those appreciating subtle scares over gore or creative kills.

• Who it’s NOT for:

  • Viewers seeking heavy action, splatter, or campy fun.
  • “If you want that fun, like shark, crocodile, whatever, Jason… it’s not that.” — Amy [22:41]

Hosts’ Recommendations & Viewing Advice

• Best Viewing:
  • At night, with someone else (“wouldn’t want to watch by myself”), for maximum creepiness. [22:58]
• Food & Drink Pairings:
  • Irish coffee, fish and chips, French onion soup, or red wine for coziness. Also suggested: hot toddy or mulled wine for the "Irish country" vibes. [23:42–24:08]
• Where to Watch:
  • Shudder, Hulu, Disney, AMC — “wherever you can find Shudder, you can find Oddity.” [24:08]

Closing Notes & Next Episode Tease

• Amy: "We hope you enjoy this as much as we did. It’s such a special film." [24:08]

• Next Movie Preview:

  • Will be another highly-reviewed recent hit about an Airbnb stay gone nightmarishly wrong, featuring one of their favorite horror actors. [24:55]

• Parting Words:

  • “We appreciate you all joining us along this journey. Happy horror watching. On behalf of my dear partner, Amy Robach, I’m TJ Holmes. We will be seeing y’all soon.” — T.J. [24:55]