Smell the Movies
Smell the TV
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| Year: | 2012 |
| Country of origin: | USA |
| Director: | William Brent Bell |
| Genre: | Exorcism guff |
| Starring: | Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth, Suzan Crowley |
| Rating: | 1/5 |
| IMDB link: | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560985/ |
| Tagline: | No soul is safe. |
| Favourite line: | None worth mentioning |
Latest in a steady trickle of exorcism movies, this one notable for some atrocious reviews but, as ever, I approach with an open mind.
The plot:
Isabella Rossi is your normal type of gal.
Sure, she's smoking hot.
Yes, she's bland as beige wallpaper.
OK, her mother went on a murderous rampage when she was very young, killing three priests who were apparently performing an exorcism on her just before she killed the fucks.
So what?
Now, some twenty years later, she's eager to find out the truth, so heads to Rome where her mother is incarcerated in a mental institution. Through a plot contrivance, she gets involved with a couple of young priestly sorts who just happen to perform illicit exorcisms, behind the back of Daddy Church and, guess what, they suspect her mother may very well be possessed.
Well, send me to the back of the class, I never would have figured.
Filmed in the all but ubiquitous documentary style - bored now - this makes that most fatal of mistakes: just as some atmosphere or tension is being built, it rips you out of the moment for a 'talking head' scene or pause for character reflection.
The plot is ludicrous, though with horror that is usually not a big problem but here, they are going for ultra realism, so the flaws shine through.
Effects-wise, it's the standard twisted limbs, flickery-jerky spasmodicisms and eyeball close-ups.
The acting is shaky, at best, but that's OK, we love low budget down here at Smell the Cult HQ.
The biggest problem of all, though, is the fact we've seen it all before.
Speaking in tongues?
Multiple voices?
Preternatural movement?
Seen it, seen it, seen it.
Demonic transference, you say?
Like we haven't seen Amityville 3: The Possession at least ten times already, you stuttering dolts.
Feeling more like a TV movie than a genuine cinematic outing, how this got a general release is something to mystify and, unfortunately, this is a case of a trailer massively overblowing the actual product on offer.
Pretty disappointing.
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