Get out your airplane barf bags everyone! The latest entry in the ever-popular "found footage" genre has hit movie screens nationwide. After weeks of heavy promotion and a gimmicky ad campaign, the newest exorcism movie, "The Devil Inside," asks audiences to spend their hard-earned cash to investigate the possibilities of demonic possession again. Did moviegoers and critics find the film entertaining?
I caught an advance screening of "The Devil Inside" and was largely unimpressed. It wasn't an absolutely horrible film. The movie just fails to add anything new to what we've already seen on the subject of demonic possession. It feels like a mash-up of "Fallen" and "The Rite," with an ending that is unsatisfying and reminiscent of what we got with "Paranormal Activity" and "The Last Exorcism." The scientific proof vs. demonic possession proof at the beginning is interesting, but then the film slips into familiar territory we've all explored before too many times.
Top critics absolutely detested "The Devil Inside." Clark Collis from Entertainment Weekly reported, "'The Devil Inside's' biggest shock arrives when it abruptly ends - just as it hits its stride." The New York Times' Manohla Dargis wrote, "Clearly, when a cheapie pickup like 'Paranormal Activity' turns into franchise gold, there's just no stopping the banality." Eric D. Snider of Film.com stated, "[Brent] Bell directs with all the enthusiasm of a guy who was called into work on his day off."
A few reviewers found something good to say about "The Devil Inside." Jennie Punter of Globe and Mail said, "While it doesn't exactly reinvent the inverted cross, 'The Devil Inside' definitely puts a nifty indie spin on the demonic possession genre." Variety's Joe Leydon remarked, "Despite the palpable air of deja vu that hangs over it like a light fog, 'The Devil Inside' generates a fair amount of suspense during sizable swaths of its familiar but serviceable exorcism-centric scenario."
Audiences were unimpressed with the film as well. Joshua W. related, "The film had its moments but were outshadowed [sic] by the long boring dialogue driven scenes. It seemed like the writers just gave up instead of coming up with an ending. This film had potential but failed to deliver."
Nate A. declared, "This has to be one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It's recycled material that isn't scary … leads up to one of the most … ridiculous and flat out dumbest endings ever in the history of film making." Mika L. complained, "I fell asleep during the movie. The only thing that woke me was the audience groaning at the corny exorcisms and boring parts in between."
Some moviegoers enjoyed "The Devil Inside" for what it was. John B. claimed, "I really enjoyed this. For me, it lived up to the style of 'The Last Exorcism' and ends where it should. Although you know it's not a real documentary, it should feel that way, and this one did a good job of that." Destinee H. related, "Really liked this movie, even if it was disturbing. I suppose it's because I believe there are demons."
Family entertainment website Movieguide.org called the movie "A poorly executed and written, low-budget horror flick. It has lots of extreme violence and some graphic foul language. It's an unsuccessful mishmash of Christian content with heretical or aberrant theology. [It] will disappoint horror fans, confuse the uninformed, and offend mature Christians."
Brent Bell directed "The Devil Inside." It stars Fernanda Andrade, Evan Helmuth, and Suzan Crowley. The movie is rated R for disturbing violent content and grisly images and language, including some sexual references. It was released through Paramount Insurge on January 6, 2011.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
Start the Year Out Right With an Asylum '2012' Movie
January 4: 'Impostor' Fails to Thrill Fans of Philip K. Dick
Mixed News About 'The Avengers' Could Thrill or Concern Fans
Eric Shirey is the founder and former editor of Rondo Award nominated movie news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, and other entertainment websites. Eric has interviewed and worked with actors like Harrison Ford, Brooke Shields, Gerard Butler, Brendan Fraser, Selena Gomez, and many more.
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