Dances With Films NY Review: ITCH! (2024) Brings Chaos and Terror

ITCH! (2024) - Dances With Films NY

By Steph Cannon

In a post-COVID world, fear and paranoia over another global pandemic are never completely out of the public’s collective mind. Though we may be years out from lockdowns, mandates, and daily news coverage, an event that affected every human on the planet tends to leave an indelible mark on our psyche. Written, directed, and starring Bari Kang, ITCH! (2024) brings to the surface the chaos and dread associated with a progressing infection while digging deep into how it affects people on a fundamental level

When we first meet Jay (Kang), he’s a widower struggling through grief and depression while trying to raise his young daughter, Olivia (played by Kang’s real-life daughter, Olivia Kang), after the death of his wife from cancer. Traumatized by the loss of her mother, Olivia has become mute, communicating with her father only through written notes. This has caused a rift between them, as both are dealing with their sadness in different ways but ultimately are not understanding one another.

ITCH! (2024) does an impressive job of weaving in this storyline right along the inciting incident, which is the development of a highly contagious, Scabies-like illness that causes those infected to have an intense itch. “The Itch,” as it’s called, is so all-consuming that it leads its victims to scratch themselves so severely that they harm themselves, losing their minds in the process, leading to zombie-like behavior.

ITCH! never falters in its escalation

ITCH! (2024) - Dances With Films NY

The threat of this mysterious new disease progresses quickly, coinciding with Jay’s arrival to cover a shift at his father’s grocery store in New York City. Speculation over the cause, origin, and severity of The Itch grows as well, fed to the audience by a combination of news reports and conversations amongst the general public. 

As if that wasn’t enough, Jay must also contend with tackling an incident with Olivia at school and a fervent attempted robbery at the store. The resulting turmoil of all of these events leads to a shuttered lockdown of the store, trapping Jay and Olivia inside with injured co-worker Lisa (Mia Ventura Lucas), disgruntled ex-employee Miguel (Patrick Michael Valley), his niece Gabriella (Ximena Uribe), and patron Henry (Douglas Stirling).

While the threat of the sickness intensifies outside Jay’s store, tensions mount inside as this group of strangers, family, and co-workers are forced to hunker down together. Suspicion and fear amongst them become evident as Jay realizes that he and Olivia aren’t just in danger from the developing sickness but also from the levels that humans will go to in order to survive.

It blends authenticity while paying homage

ITCH! (2024) - Dances With Films NY

ITCH! (2024) pays clear homage to stories such as The Mist and Dawn of the Dead, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a carbon copy. The film sets itself apart with a diverse, sympathetic cast of characters in a gritty, claustrophobic setting while also exploring the emotional complexities that go along with protecting yourself and those that you love.

Any parent will tell you that the primal need to keep your child safe can be overwhelming at times. This is the foundation of what makes ITCH! (2024) a profoundly moving piece of cinematic storytelling. Kang’s choice to cast himself as Jay, alongside his own daughter to play Olivia, brings a heartbreaking authenticity to these characters that simply can’t be replicated by actors who aren’t familiar with one another. 

The cast’s performances are superb. Olivia Kang does an impeccable job of delivering an emotional performance, even with the difficult task of having only a few speaking lines. She expresses more with her face than many actors twice her age would be able to achieve.

Stirling’s portrayal of Henry, someone who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, is surprisingly developed, making you immediately care for him. There isn’t a weak link in the entire cast, as each actor puts their all into their character, immersing you in their confined, horrific world.

Final thoughts and lasting impact

ITCH! (2024) - Dances With Films

At times, ITCH! (2024) is a difficult movie to watch—both from an emotional and a horror angle…but that’s exactly how it should be. Kang manages to deliver a harrowing, terrifying, gripping tale that examines the darkest depths of humanity while simultaneously honoring the most pure. He stands out as an insightful, talented creator, one whom the world needs more stories from.

ITCH! (2024) is easily a must-watch for horror fans and film buffs alike. 

ITCH! (2024) had its world premiere at Dances With Films NY.