The Well (2024) Is a Beautifully Violent Italian Chiller

An Italian Horror Renaissance?

The Well is the third horror movie I’ve reviewed this year about a young American woman who encounters evil supernatural forces while traveling alone in Italy.

No, this isn’t another demonic baby nun movie. It’s only superficially similar to Immaculate and The First Omen. Instead, it’s about a cursed painting and a murderous supernatural conspiracy.

Lisa Gray (Lauren Lavera) is a professional art restorer. After being hired by Italian duchess Emma Malvizi (Claudia Gerini), she travels to Italy to restore a severely damaged medieval 15th century painting.

Along the way, she encounters other Americans: biologists Tracy (Taylor Zaudtke) and Madison (Courage Oviawe), and their Italian guide Tony (Gianluigi Calvani).

She also meets Emma’s moody, eccentric teen daughter Giulia (Linda Zampaglione), who makes oblique warnings that Lisa initially disbelieves. As she restores the painting, Lisa uncovers a terrifying demonic image.

She begins to have vivid nightmares that foretell a dark fate. This part of the movie was a bit overdone. I’ve never enjoyed the “it was all a dream” trope and this movie has too many scenes like this. You can only trick the audience so many times before…