Just caught my first movie of the year. The Devil Inside starring Fernanda Andrade and Simon Quarterman. Filmed in a genre that is near and dear to my heart, found footage, the title tells it all. Mommy has a devil, or four, inside.
Unlike many works in this genre, this film did not appear constrained by locations. We see shots of the Vatican, a car wreck and a mental institution. In all, I would say at least 20 locations. Compared to a Paranormal Activity which felt limited to three or four, this feature seems wide open.
Director William Brent Bell makes good use of these locations and does some fine work. Perhaps a little to much use of static riddled displays and video jump camera tricks for my taste. The abrupt ending left the audience asking what the f**#, literally.
Where the film falls short is not in its execution, but in the subject matter itself. Exorcism is a played out sub-genre (at least until someone has a new and brilliant way of presenting it). For now, there’s only one way to do an Exorcism: I suspect that mommy has a demon in her, but I want to visit her in a mental institution anyway. Better bring along a priest or two packing plenty of crosses and holy water. The little bugger knows my deepest darkest secrets. The demon contorts and levitates the poor wretch until the priests cast the demon out. But that red tailed troublemaker has to go somewhere - a priest, the cameraman or maybe even a daughter.
Back to my point on a new exorcism presentation. Remember when zombies were super slow stalkers. The sub-genre just fizzled. Then along comes 28 Days Later and its rage virus. Suddenly, zombies were scary fast. The sub-genre is resurrected and even has its own television show, The Walking Dead.
Who will come up with the next big idea and turn this exorcism thing on its ear? I don’t know, but for now I’m pretty luke warm on the brain eaters. For my first review, I will give The Devil Inside two of five airplanes.
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