Devil Inside

Before saying anything, let me point out I watch all films with an open mind, and normally I can enjoy a film regardless of how technically poor it is.

This however, was a farce. I honestly can't believe this film got released into theatres, scene after scene was a regurgitation of scenes that we've all seen before. Not just individual scenes, but the whole tone of the film was so familiar and dull.

I didn't take count, but after a noticeable amount of times of the date being shot at me with a low dong was laughable, the bloke who made it must've watched paranormal activity and thought "ooh that was good, I'll have that... then I'll grossly over use it" There was nothing new about any of the exorcism scenes, apart from it was with a hand held camera.. wow. just watch the exorcist and shake the TV around.

I felt like i was watching an awful, pretentious student film from the outset and most of the acting had me cringing in my seat. I literally have never seen a worse all round acting display in my life... it was just totally unacceptable. They were trying so hard to make it look 'real' or 'genuine' and it just looked pathetic, so many face head scratching and little smirks to themselves.

I won't go into the ending... but it summed the movie up really. unoriginal, contrived and no shock factor (which was obviously intended) you know when a film is so bad its kind of entertaining? well this is just offensive. It was shameful. I can't think of one redeeming quality.

DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THIS FILM

If star ratings were awarded for trying, The Devil Inside would definitely get 5/5 stars. It truly wants to be something. Ever since the Blair Witch Project redefined horror with its 'first person perspective' there have been many imitators.

Some have worked, others haven't. Sadly, The Devil Inside is the latter.

Every post-Blair Witch first person film will be judged against Blair Witch and, although The Devil Inside tries to break away, it doesn't really succeed. It's about a girl who goes to the Vatican to track down her long lost mother, who was sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Was she simply mad, or possessed? The Devil Inside lurches from one carbon copy of another similar film to another. I saw shades of Paranormal Activity mixed in there with The Last Exorcism (both superior films in my opinion). The actors did as best they could with what they were given. As with these kinds of films, they did well to capture the 'naturalistic' elements of their dialogue.

It's just not that scary. If you've seen one exorcism movie, then you've basically seen this one (even if this one does do it from a first-person perspective - which The Last Exorcism has already done anyway).

It's not bad, it's just not original. And (SEMI SPOILER ALERT) the ending will leave viewers thoroughly divided. You only have to look at some message boards to see that some people loved it - most despised it and felt ripped off.

It's your call. If you really need one more exorcism movie, then give it a go. But you've probably seen everything The Devil Inside has to offer before... and better.

The answer to the title question is most likely this near repugnant cash in on a horror sub-genre that is being milked for all its worth. As always with horror as a genre, even the most unimaginative movie will find staunch supporters, such is the case with this here picture from William Brent Bell. That's not to sarcastically put down those who enjoy it, for without doubt some do find any form of demonic possession in movies as being terrifying, but in a movie that runs at under 80 minutes, there's under ten minutes of unease, chills or possession based terror. Yes a couple of scenes hold the tingle on the spine, and true enough to say that Suzan Crowley as Maria Rossi acts superbly, but what about the rest of it? The structure and formula is tired, there's no attempt to spin something new into the demonic possession market, while the ending is undoubtedly as bad a cop-out as you may have heard it is.

Cribbing from any number of movies that are far better, devoid of a sense of build up and sustaining of atmosphere, it is what it is. A lazy cash cow aimed at a small niche in the horror fan universe who find the thematics reason enough to get involved with it. My honest advice is to just watch the trailer instead and skip the movie. 4/10

The movie was better than any other exorcism/exorcist movie I've seen. Definitely better than all the Paranormal Activities, but it was also low quality. The whole movie was very shaky, very few times was the camera held still. The angles the cameras were put in were kind of odd. The ending was absolutely terrible. There were parts that made you jump but for the most part, it was like any other documentary film about this kind of stuff. I would recommend it to anyone who likes the thrill of stuff like that, but for anybody else, do not waste your money. For the few parts that they actually showed an exorcism, compared to what the previews show, it wasn't worth it at all.

I managed similar cases for 9 years and I see chilling similarities to our cases; Sclera (no pupils), flying across the room, levitation, visions, hair pulling, slapping and personal invasions. Demonic infestations, manifestations and injuries are common. There is no science to the invasions. Science is only used in attempt to explain away medical causes while monitoring the victims health. These instances are slim (less than 1% receive this benefit). Remember, demonic possession doesn't exist, yet it does according to psychological diagnosis codes, Yet, if medical professionals have no choice but to use it, then the victim is usually hospitalized due to incompetence. It's easier to dismiss it was a psychological issue, however that only becomes true when the problem is ignored or goes on unaddressed. Demons, diabolical entities and even Satan that can inhibit a host (Christian or not). This film should ring as a warning to everyone that its not all or just entertainment. I personally think that Hollywood should embrace this film as a near reality, believe it or not and that my friends is truly frightening.