Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror
Films
Images from the Internet
Book of the Dead (aka
The Grotto)
Directed by Giordany Orellana
Genstrat / Anchorbolt Studios / Princ
/
Wild Eye Releasing / MVD Entertainment
Wild Eye Releasing / MVD Entertainment
84 minutes, 2014 / 2019
With
great anticipation, I watched this Italian possession film. The land of Fulci,
Bava and Argento, so gorefest and mindfuck, right? Weeeeeell…
Set
in scenic and beautiful Naples and recorded in English, the film introduces us
to lovers Carlo (Mario Rivelli, looking macho with a constant 10 O’clock shadow
and strong jaw line) and American Melissa (Camille Montgomery, being very
svelte and model-like). They move into Carlo’s family home (“The Grotto” of the
film’s original title) – despite warnings – to set up their own happy abode.
Before
long the titular Book of the Dead (actually a tome about Demons of which three
exist in the world) starts being a Talking Tina that can’t be thrown away, and
the ghost of a 40-year-dead evil 10-year-old starts popping in and out. And let
us not forget the demon of revenge, Mul’Adur (Rocky Collins).
 |
| Mario Rivelli |
In
a concurrent story that will blend, academic Anna (the wonderfully named Shalana
Santana) who specializes in demonology, is searching for said demon book, and
is called in to save the possessed Melissa.
In
very slow-moving exposition, Melissa eventually becomes possessed as a
sacrifice for our not-so-friendly demon. Everything moves very unhurriedly in
this film until the last 15 minutes, and by that time, I was just exhausted
waiting for some action. Yeah, there are moments here and there, but honestly
the film drags a bit.
Part
of the problem lies in the use of tropes that we have seen before multiple
times (popping up in mirrors, shadows moving across the camera, doors opening
and closing by themselves; that kind of thing). The possession proper, when it
finally get around to it, mostly has Melissa in a fugue state, rather than head
spinnings and floating above the bed; rather she sits in a chair staring
blankly.
That
is not to say there aren’t some good moments, such as footsteps showing up in
blood, and the director uses some really nice and subtle camera angles, which
are effective. Just not enough of it. Oh, I do want to add that he also uses
Naples beautifully, showing off how lovely the city can be.
 |
| Camille Montgomery |
Most
demon possession films have a deeply religious (i.e., Italy = Catholicism)
themes, figuratively if not literally throwing the Bible at the possessor.
However, this relies more on the Evil
Dead franchise where it’s the aforementioned and titular book about demons
that has the sway here. No one even thinks of calling a priest? In Italy?
For
those gorehounds who look for films with somewhat similar themes like The Song of Solomon in the indie realm
and the abundance of The Possession of
[Fill-in-the-Name] that are filling the likes of Netflix, Amazon, etc., you
may be in for a mild shock. Mild because despite the presence of blood and even
some set effects, there really isn’t much in the gore department. But hey, that
may mean you may be able to watch it with your squeamish companions.
Is
the film worth watching to those horror mavens who live and “die” for the
genre? Well, yeah, but with a temperance towards patience. This certainly is
slow moving though not glacially, and the acting is decent (Montgomery
essentially just stares ahead for the last 30 minutes or so, and does a bit of
thrashing about that looks forced; check the trailer below).
As
I stated, the photography is beautiful, and the city of Naples is a splendid
backdrop for the story. The editing is nicely done and there are some jump
scares that will be effective to some.
The
only extras on the DVD is four Wild Eye Releasing trailers, but not this one,
probably because the coming attractions still have the original name, The Grotto, on them.
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