The Demon Disorder

I wish I knew why I still pay for Shudder. Very little new content is added and when it is, it is either "Shudder exclusive" nonsense like this and In A Violent Nature or a "Shudder Original " like...well, name any Shudder Original, they pretty much all stink. This one is yet another average possession film, with the distinction of Australian accents. Shudder was much better before it was under the dubious wing of AMC. At least then there was the possibility of finding an older classic to revisit. Now? Not so much, plus all the new stuff absolutely suck. Skip this, and skip Shudder if that's at all possible.

As most reviews have acknowledged, the best thing about this film is the practical FX.

The family drama doesn't resonate as strongly as it could but it does build throughout the runtime. The father figure is sympathetic and a poignant "team-effort" moment at the end of the film lands surprisingly well. I didn't think they would but the characters won me over in the end, despite their flaws.

The pace is a little slow but things go hard enough in the last 20minutes to be worth the build up. Not only are the practical FX well produced but the way they are revealed to the audience, first in close-up, then in low light, before being shown in full glory is just fantastic.

Recommended for fans of When Evil Lurks (2023), Almost Human (2013) and Altered (2006).

Oh, When Evil Lurks, it's a chest burster.

Continuing into Ahhctober 2024, I found another Australian horror to promote. But, barely. This is such a minor version of the great "When Evil Lurks" of 2023. I will say, though, this has INCREDIBLE special/practical effects. I will ALWAYS praise a movie that favors/uses practical over CGI. Especially, THIS well.

Two estranged brothers reunite when a family member suffers from a demon attack much like the father/head of household. This isn't a straightforward tale, but it's fairly easy to grasp. I just can't fathom these people surviving these chest-bursting demons.

I do LOVE Australian movies, especially the horror kind. SOOO many of them out there to enjoy. Problem here is, it's very self-contained. It all takes place in two locations and literally could've taken place anywhere in the world.

It's also very short - only 86 minutes, but it does feel SOOO much longer. Not much story here and yet, it's serviceable. Especially due to the effects, acting and it being well-shot. Slight recommendation.

***

Final Thoughts: Let's all support filmmakers like these. Practical effects need to be front and center. It's creative and shows heart.

Despite the fact of never having heard about this 2024 horror movie from director Steven Boyle, of course I opted to watch it, as I happened to stumble upon it by random chance. Given my love of all things horror, of course I needed no persuasion to give this movie a fair chance.

The storyline in the movie was adequate, although it was not as if writers Steven Boyle and Toby Osborne revolutionized the horror genre with "The Demon Disorder". While the pacing of the narrative is fair, the movie was lacking scary contents. And it was a shame, because that is what I enjoy when watching horror movies.

The only face on the cast list that I was familiar with was actor John Noble. It should be noted, however, that the acting performances in the movie were fair.

Visually the movie was okay, though you're not in for any jaw-dropping special effects moments.

Watchable, for sure, but "The Demon Disorder" is ultimately a horror movie that came and left without leaving much of a lasting impression on me. Is it a horror movie that I would recommend horror fans to seek out and watch? Well, no, not really. The script in the movie is a tad too mundane and generic for that.

My rating of director Steven Boyle's 2024 horror movie "The Demon Disorder" lands on a four out of ten stars.

The practical effects are outstanding in this grimy Australian horror with echoes of 'Relic' and 'The Taking of Deborah Logan' in the premise of dementia and Alzheimers Disease being a springboard of demonic possession.

The acting is top notch by the cast and they all seem like brothers going through this hell.

The ending is rather abrupt and doesn't really pay off but its refreshing to see the blood and gore well used and, from what I could tell, not much CGI effects used.

Kudos to the budget which was sparse but got across the dirtiest living conditions on this farm.

I predict these filmmakers have a bright future in this genre.