OK, first of all, I demand a round of applause for writing this review after getting zero sleep from watching this movie. Seriously, it’s the most demented hour and 27 minutes I’ve spent since finals.
“The Devil Inside,” while eerily reminiscent of the documentary-style Paranormal Activity series, makes for one epic scary movie that doesn’t fall into the typical, god-awful horror genre we’ve all grown bored of, and are a bit insulted by (Shark Night 3D (2011), anyone?).
We’ve all seen it and have been creeped out by that voice in the movie’s trailer: “Three people…are dead…” but it just gets so much worse.
The story revolves around Isabella Rossi’s (Fernanda Andrade) search for answers after her mother, Maria Rossi (Suzan Crowley), murdered three people back in 1989 (the victims being religious figures. Uncanny, right?). Maria was later institutionalized in Rome’s Centrino Hospital for the Criminally Insane. After 20 years of uncertainty as to what actually occurred on the night of the murders, Isabella decides to travel to Italy to visit her deranged mother in hopes of uncovering the truth. Of course, she gets a hell of a lot more than she could have ever imagined.
As with any horror movie, the pretty girl ends up to be the undoing of everyone she meets. Isabella befriends two young priests, who happen to be undercover exorcists. Not only does she have impeccable luck in running into two priests willing to go against the church, but she also has her own cameraman to document the exorcism she is invited to witness. The priests also agree to perform an exorcism on her mother. Some people have all the luck.
Remember “Cloverfield” (2008) and all the shaky gives-you-an-instant-headache footage? Yeah, well, this film will remind you of it until your eyeballs bleed. As soon as the action kicks in, so does the shaky-cam, so be wary of that. Personally, I’ve been over the vomit-inducing self-footage deal since “The Blair Witch Project” (1999).
I will admit “The Devil Inside” really delivers the demons. Once you get into the film, it’ll start creeping you out — or having you vying for a yoga class. All the demonic body contortion, bones snapping, levitating, straight-from-hell wails will send you straight for the nearest Bible. Thank God it’s an app now.
The exorcisms are pretty disturbing and life-like (exorcisms tend to be horrific, who knew?). So if you have a weak stomach, are uber religious or just can’t stand to see random bouts of menstruation — check out another movie. I highly doubt I’d watch this again if given the opportunity; it just wasn’t my cup of tea. That, and the ending was a cheap shot at the audience. I’m willing to bet my tuition the directors of “The Devil Inside” will pull out at least five alternative endings on that DVD and yes, there will most definitely be a part two.
But hey, if you’re ballsy and have a thing for demonic possession, check out “The Devil Inside”. I’ll even say a few Hail Mary’s for ya!
