Reviews: 5 Various Exorcism Themed Films
Text © Richard
Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2022
Images from the Internet
When looking over films that use the word “Exorcism” or “Exorcist” in the title, it is usually, pun intended, dead serious. When dealing with ghosts, classic humanoid creatures (Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, etc.) there is sometimes a level of humor, but less so in possession films. Even with the grandfather of all possession films, The Exorcist (1973), it tends to be Catholic Priests vs. either Demons or the Devil itself. Yet, they can range from pretty mild and weird, like Shark Exorcist (2014) to gory and intense, such as The Song of Solomon (2014).This is not to say it cannot be occasionally silly. Please note, in all honesty, I enter this religious context as an atheist who has never been a Christian, thank god.
These films below
are not ranked, but are listed alphabetically, all from TubiTV. Note that my snark
is truly meant to be fun and rib-poking with a touch of stream of consciousness.
I had just the right low-budget expectation for these films, so I was not
blindsided by anticipating a theatrical extravaganza experience. After all, when
it comes to the cheese level, there are times when ya want melted brie on
toast, and at others, Cheez-Whiz on animal crackers. I enjoyed these films for
precisely what they are. All of these releases are recent, since the millennium.
Links to the coming attractions for all of them are at the bottom of each review.
Accidental
Exorcist
Directed by Daniel
Falicki
Sector 5 Films;
Gravitas Ventures
105 minutes, 2016
Wow, it’s been quite a while since I reviewed a film by either the
director Falicki, or his associated company, Sector 5 Films. The owner of S5 is
a Trumper, and when he found out I was vehemently not, as I am a proud liberal,
the chain of films to review stopped coming (note that my reviews, positive or
negative, were unaffected by our differing political views). Anyway, Falicki’s
flicks, such as Shadow World: The Haunting of Misti Delaney (2014), 3:33 AM (2014), and Awaken theDevil (2014), were all enjoyable. So,
I am looking forward to seeing this one. In this story, Richard Vanuk
(the director, Falicki), is the titular exorcist. He is unbathed, profane,
seemingly non-religious, and a drunkard, but he has the ability to exorcise by
doing a Resurrection (1980) by drawing the demon out of the victim and
into himself, which is hard on his body. He also suffers from painful stigmata,
a side-effect of the job. A mysterious person or organization keeps sending him
to numerous such tasks in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but he’s living a destitute
life, eating SPAM out of the can (the amount of salt he ingests would build a
Lot’s wife) and being threatened by the landlord’s racist, homophobic and
not-too-smart son (David Higbee) for not being able to pay rent. No wonder he
drinks, right? He’s in rough shape, and Falicki plays him incredibly well for a
low budget release. It’s pretty intense throughout, but there is also a certain
level of dark humor, though I would hardly call this a comedy; for example,
while in the middle of an existential alcoholic withdrawal, he’s wearing a
D.A.R.E. tee. There is also a plethora of film references, as Vanuk is a film
buff, which is also fun for the viewer. An interesting aspect to this is that
while Vanuk is not affiliated to any form of orthodoxy, some of his clients
are, including a reverend and a Catholic fanatic. No one is safe, as we see him
handle a number of difficult cases, each one weirder than the next. But that is
definitely part of the enjoyment. There are two things to remember about this
film, if it’s a trigger to you: one is that there is a lot of drinking,
and there is an abundance of puking by just about everybody. So, yeah,
the man who fights demons definitely has a few of his own, both the
psychological kind but including the ones who hang around his tiny, cluttered
and smelly apartment. And what is the effect of having all these demons
processing through his body, both the psychological and the physical? The
effects look solid and quite bodily greasy, and as an overall film, well, I
chalk this up to another Falicki success.
Trailer is HERE
The Good Exorcist
Directed by Josh Stifter
Rebel Without a Crew; Flush Studios
86 minutes, 2018
www.joshstifter.com/
Austin, Texas, is one of the few sane places in the state that remain,
and the Star Hill Ranch, where this was filmed, is there. This is one of the
out-and-out comedies that is, rather than merely silly like, say, the later Scary
Movie franchise, but it’s both goofy and smart at the same time. For
example, the first priest we meet is Father Trejo (Mark Hansen), certainly
named after Danny; also, for older folks, there is a caller to an Alex Jones
clone conspiracy-based radio talk show named Doodles Weber, whose name sounds a
lot like comedian Doodles Weaver (d. 1983). Our main, titular character is
Father Gil (Daniel Degnan, who has a co-writing credit, for which I am going to
guess is for abundant ad libs; he also appeared in a few of Stifter’s films
around this period). We meet Father Gil performing an exorcism while dancing
and listening to death metal on a cassette Walkman. He also looks a bit like a
Hassidic rabbi, with the beard and wide-brimmed hat. Like the lead of Accidental
Exorcist (reviewed above), Father Gil is profane, devil-may-care (pun
intended), and a drinker, but a major difference is that Gil is confident and a
bit smug. This is expressed in a video (yes, VHS) of himself explaining his
services and possible side effects to his clients. The client at hand is at the
Willows’ household, filled with ”good Christians” mom (Ali Meier), dad (John
Baran), and weird, dumb-as-dirt, adult albeit childish son with a ‘70s-style porn
mustache, Stanley (Avery Merrifield, who steals many of his scenes). Also at
the ranch is cynical hired helper Maria (Brittaney Ortiz), who wears a huge eyepatch
a la Christina Lindberg in Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1973). The
demon possessing the ranch (and the occasional person) is the powerful Abaddon,
a tentacled creature that has already murdered. While the comedy is somewhat
consistent, it does turn serious once the demon hits the fan (actually, that’s
one object that it doesn’t possess at any point) and the exorcism begins,
but nothing dire. There is some ridiculous puppet monsters (budget, but also works
for the story) and some cool animation, as well as a mix of CGI and practical
effects, which are easy to differentiate. There are lots of film references
both blatant and subtle, such as someone often with a chainsaw (get it? Texas?),
and that is part of its charm, perhaps a potential drinking game. This was a
really enjoyable, cheesy and breezy release, and it made me smile. Because the
story is over the top, so is the acting to keep up the consistency. Because of
the dichotomy of the similarities between this exorcist and the one in Accidental
Exorcist and the complete opposite of tone, I would recommend seeing them
as a double feature.
Trailer is HERE
High School
Exorcism (aka High School
Possession)
Directed by Peter
Sullivan
Hybrid; Production
Media Group; Lifetime Television; Tesera Entertainment
88 minutes, 2014
To be honest, I’m going into this not really expecting much, (a) because
of the title, and (b) the connection with Lifetime Television. But we live in
hyper-religious White Christian desperation times (they are afraid of losing
their hold, so they have become more harassing). Even before it starts, I
imagine this as “Riverdale” (2017-present as of this writing) meets Saved! (2004),
with a possible touch of The Craft (1996). I am wondering if there is
actually anything supernatural in it, or if it will end up being a Christian
fear film, especially since the director has a history of directing
Christmas-themed television films (one of the reasons I stop watching TV for
all of December). Let’s dive in. The titular exorcism here involves Chloe (Jennifer
Stone), who is usually cheerful, but is now depressed, angry, and acting out
due to her parents’ (including Ione Skye, who was once a teen acting golden
girl herself in the early 1990s; at this age, it’s amazing how much she
resembles her dad, singer Donovan) divorce…and the fact that she’s a teenager,
perhaps? But the protagonist is actually Chloe’s friend, Lauren (Janel Parrish,
whose mom is played by Kelly Hu), who is a reporter for the school newspaper.
She has an assignment to check out a religious group called The Chosen (not too
subtle) at her local church, which includes her schoolmate and religious
fanatic/bully, Olivia (Shanley Caswell), where she accidentally sees an
exorcism in progress, led by Reverend Young (William McNamara). This whole part
is steeped in Christian mythology, from The Chosen’s meeting to the rite. When
Chloe drunkenly sleeps with Olivia’s douche of a boyfriend at a party, she
becomes the target of Olivia’s ire (you know, blame the woman, not the man; yes,
this was written by Hanz Wasserburger, a male who writes TV Christmas fare). So,
the $30,000 question is: is Chloe, who is hearing voices and staring at the
wall possessed, or is she a teenager with issues? The film hints at one, but
leaves it open for the viewer to mull for a while. The acting is pure
television movie style, with just a hint of over- or under-emoting, like
everyone is emotionally doing that “wah” at the end of sentences” (e.g., “I
know-wah”), without actually doing it, if that makes any sense at all; Skye,
however, comes out the most natural actor in the film. This is
television/cinema high school, so everyone is gorgeous with perfect and very
white teeth (realistic looking people need not apply). The film sends the
message that is you are struggling and having mental issues (possibly
schizophrenia?), surely it must be demonic and only the Church can help. When I
was a teen, I was into things horrific (still am), had fake skulls in my
bedroom and had low self-esteem. Was I possessed, or filled with hormones? Did
you know in Ontario, 8th grade teachers are the highest paid instructors
because they have to deal with teenage hormones? As the third act gets
underway, the overhanded Christian dogma really starts to become cloying and
heavy-handed, with an outright attack on atheists (as religious films are wont
to do) in a classroom discussion on Hemingway. I fought the urge to skip ahead
or turn on a podcast by Austin, TX’s brilliant “Atheist Experience” to cleanse
my palate. Other, non-story but filmmaking questions I have include the
following: why does Lauren go into the school newspaper office on a Saturday to
write an article when she most likely has a computer at home? And why does Skye
still wear her wedding ring if she’s divorced (note that in real life, she’s
married to musician Ben Lee)? Of course, even with a bathing scene, there is no
nudity (other than an upper back) and not even a “damn,” never mind stronger
language. There is some violence, but mostly punches thrown sans blood
(though some makes an “after” cutting appearance). The film is more about the
reindoctrinating of Lauren, finding “Matthew, John, Luke, and Paul” than the exorcism,
and that annoys me. One really doesn’t need to be overly religious to tell a
good possession story, such as, once again, The Exorcist (1973). Finally
at the end times of the film (see what I did there?), we finally get the
exorcism (hey, it’s in the trailer), led by Olivia, who is verging on a feeling
of jealousy and religious self-righteousness. Will this end well? Not gonna
say. But I will add, if I never hear “The Lord’s Prayer” again, I won’t miss
it. Overall, this really isn’t a good film as far as a true genre connoisseur fare,
but as this is a television film, it would fit on the Hallmark Channel with no
problem. While not as ridiculous as another Christian exorcism film I once saw
called The Enemy (1974), I still wanted to take a shower after because
of the weight of the religiosity. This could easily have been called God’s
Not Dead, Part 666.
Trailer is HERE
Nurse Exorcist
(aka The Exorcist
Nurse)
Directed by Masafumi
Yamada
Wild Eye Releasing;
Chance In; Kijuu
94 minutes, 2018
www.wildeyereleasing.com
Japanese genre films often deal with ghosts, demons and evil beings, but
I cannot recall a previous exorcism release from that country. So, when I saw
this, I got a bit excited. The original was obviously in Japanese, but the
TubiTV version is dubbed into very precise English, if your caption-aphobic.
Oddly, there is a quirk in the translation in that characters often repeat what
they say twice; I do not believe this is purposeful. First thing you may notice
is that the color filtering of the film is varied. Much of it is quite muted
with a nearly sepia tone, some is in black and white, and others in full color.
Yukiko Norita is not feeling well. Every time her husband, Kaigo, touches her,
she bruises, and during a brain scan, a dark shadow hovers around her. She is admitted
to the hospital on the same day as new, mysterious nurse, Misaki Matsumoto
(Haruka Monokawa). The other young nurse, Rie Asama (Nanami Yamada) tries to
befriend the quiet Matsumoto; note that these are the only two cast members
listed in IMDB, and the end credits just list the actors’ names without their
roles so I’m not sure who played who (whom?). You just know their paths are
going to overlap. There is also a crusty older Head Nurse (whomever does her
dubbing sounds really stilted and odd) who is in charge that does not suffer
fools. As with most possession films, real or not (within the story), many times
the question is first posed whether it is psychological or sinister. The black
kind of foreshadows that (it’s in the first few minutes and also in the
trailer, below), but the film still plays with that notion. Yukiko is convinced
that everyone is telling her to divorce her apparently loyal husband, and she
is freakin’ out in the hospital. As usual, Asians have a different take on the
mostly American film tradition and make it their own by mixing Japanese mythology
into it. So, while it’s not necessarily a demon possessing someone and the
exorcist is there to – er – exorcise it, it’s a different, more personal take
that will sound familiar to those fans of Asian horror cinema that I will not
divulge because it was cool when it came to light. This is definitely the
equivalent of a low-budget B-movie, and there are certainly talky parts, but it
was different and yet familiar enough to keep me watching.
Trailer is HERE
A Zombie Exorcism
(aka Opstandelsen)
Directed by Casper
Haugeguaard
Jawbreaker
Productions; Wild Eye Releasing
49 minutes, 2010
www.wildeyereleasing.com
This Danish release is brief and hopefully not sweet. In many circles,
this would be considered a short film (i.e., under one hour). What I found intriguing
is the possibility of the cross of two genres, evident in the title. When it comes
time for my “zombie collection” releases, this could have appeared then, as
well (it was a choice between this and 2017’s Amityville Exorcism as a
crossover title). This is in Danish (the translation of the original title is “The
Resurrection”) with large, clear captioning. We enter the story at a funeral of
Christian (of course) in a church. I am not sure of the denomination, but it’s
orthodox enough that the men sit on one side (the “right side” of course since
Christianity is a pro-male religion), and the women on the other. The priest,
Father Lucius (Hans Maalǿe) drones on about, of course, the Resurrection (as
funerals tend to do in Christian orthodoxy) and the coming of Judgment Day
(obey, or else, is the theme). While the church has quite a few people,
the focus is on one family, headed by a very strict and controlling mother,
Ruth (Roxanne Tirkov). One of the sons, Simon (Peter Althoff) however, isn’t
into it and is snorting a white powder off whatever the denomination’s Bible (we
see a large 666 on the page, of course). It is implied that the sin of this action
brings the church graveyard to zombie post-life (reminiscent of 1985’s The Return
of the Living Dead) to attack the congregation. Just in case you are
curious, these are fast zombies. There is no explanation for the recently re-risen,
but I am going to assume from the title that it has to do with demonic
influences. Or maybe it is brought upon by the using of the Bible as a coke
spoon, or in the other direction, the uptightness of the priest. When the
killing starts, it’s definitely bloody with body parts a-flinging. Simon and
three others manage to get into the basement of the church through a trap door;
Simon’s brother Johannes (Jonas Bjǿrn-Andersen) takes control (masculinist) of
the situation, while sister Esther (cute Marie Fromhé Vanglund) takes care of a
sister who is wounded/bitten. Well, we all know where that is going. An
interesting aspect of this film is before the zombies arrive, the image is
muted, nearly colorless. After they attack, the image is clearer, brighter, and
better to show off all the blood. The main crux of the story is how they fight
their way out of the basement. For a low budget film, it is extremely graphic
with gore and blood, with practical effects, and is stunning to watch. The
zombies look amazing, rather than ones that look like they have putty on their
face. If you hate captions, just watch it with the sound off and enjoy the
scenery. Other than Simon fighting off the zombies with a metal cross, I’m not
sure where the exorcism in the title fits in, but still, this was quite
enjoyable. The original Danish title makes more sense, this is still a hoot and
a half, and perhaps I should have included it in a future zombie collection
rather than an exorcism one. Still not sorry, though, and I recommend this film.
Trailer is HERE
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