The Devil Inside

The Devil Inside

2012

Director- William Brent Bell

Cast- Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman,  Evan Helmuth,  Ionut Grama, Suzan Crowley, Bonnie Morgan

           

I hesitate to use the term “found footage” because it conjures up images of shaky, out of focus, kids running through the woods, but as I can’t think of a better term, I guess it will have to do. The premise of the film is this; in 1989 Maria Rossi murders 3 people, all members of the clergy. As an adult, her daughter, Isabella is told by her father that her mother killed those people while they were performing an exorcism on her. Her mother has been in a Vatican hospital for the insane for the last 20 years. The Devil Inside is presented as a documentary being shot by Isabella as she tries to find out the truth.

            While at the Vatican, Isabella meets 2 priests that have been performing “unapproved” exorcisms or in other words, performing exorcisms on people that the Church has identified as mentally ill rather than possessed.

            The film begins with an interesting exploration of similarities between mental illness and possession. Personally, I think that would have made for an interesting film just exploring that. However, to the delight of horror fans, the film diverges from its intellectual debate and leaves no doubt that the supernatural is at work.

            After observing the two rogue priests conduct an exorcism, she agrees to let them have a go at her mother. The results are less than spectacular and the evil takes a particular twist than made for a pleasant surprise in what can be a tiring sub-genre.

            Bonus connection- the actress portraying the first victim that the priests exorcise is contortionist Bonnie Morgan. Not only has she had roles in several other horror movies, including The Last Witch Hunter, but her father is actor and stunt man Gary Morgan who appeared in many films including The Devil and Max Devlin.