DBlackthorne

A glimpse into the extravagant Roman "Catholic" system predictably full of intrigue, infighting, criminal obfuscation, backstabbing shenanigans, political skullduggery, smear campaigns, nepotism, hypocritical desires of selfish acquisition, and antisemitism.

With the aid of an enthusiastic nun well aware of the many misdeed underpinnings, the dean of the college of cardinals investigates candidates for the papacy, revealing petty setups and ambush tactics designed to besmirch credibility and defame reputations. Fabrications, cover-ups, blackmail dynamics throughout.

Ornate sets, costumes, statuary, in a darkly quiet film exemplifying the innate corruption and pretentiousness therein a profit organization far removed from the pauper icon of misery and servility it claims to worship. In name only, to the necessary regulatory manipulation of the simpleton masses, and to force oppressed Pagans into conversion, while veritable white wolves præy on the gullibility of their own sheeple.

The Inquisition, religious wars, the Satanic Panics and pseudo-"witch" hysterias, must not be forgotten.

Primitive, untrustworthy Saracen destructive organisms imagining themselves perpetually fighting some so-called "holy war" figure in briefly, amusingly obliterate themselves and other blindlighters. Obvious historical justifications to prevent encroachment upon other nations.

With overall one hell of an amusing twist at the end, one begins to realize the reasons the previous pope may have made those clandestine plans and secretive selections in the end, a last shot with a wink and a nod... the telling laughter of novitiates echoing in the courtyard..

Based upon the simplistic dualistic idea that all faiths join together to battle the Ultimate Evil possessing two little girls who went out to "play" with the Ouija board.

Firstly, it is foolhardy to approach the Ouija Board with an attitude of mere "play", particularly clueless amateurs with no experience with Demonology or Necromancy, much less attempt to command parapsychological forces & dynamics, even though it is presented as a "game". It may be useful as a tool of ESP exercise, as such sources provide like tarot cards also, an expression of Jungian archetypes and latent abilities which improve upon regular practice. Indeed, with enough practice, it may even evolve to become a veritable stepping stone to further exploration into the Occult, as well as personalized variants to more deeply access dormant keys to dimensions of the shadowside, The Abyss within.*

The plot presents rather omnic mytheological concepts reflected in the works of Joseph Campbell, essentially that nomatter the cultural reference or liturgy, what is truly pertinent is the emotion and mental force placed into a symbol and idea to achieve the end result {which would ironically be a definition of Magic}, not confined to one ideology. The "possession" phenomenon is cross-cultural, and every religion and region has its own method of approach.

When an earthquake devastates 3rd world wasteland Haiti {compounding storms}, a professional photographer's pregnant wife is gravely injured on their honeymoon, wherein the unfortunate choice to choose the baby or mother is offered. He chooses the baby, although she could have lived to produce others. As a result, he evolves to become godless.

Clerics from various belief systems {Protestant, Catholic, Voodoo} gather to combat the perceived demonic entity indwelling friends Katherine & Angela, who make a questionable decision of using a Ouija board in the local wilderness, into which they disappear for a few days, finally found in the throes of oppression then full-on possession, from displaying uncharacteristic personality traits to the infamous supernatural demonstrations. Constrained to a couple of chairs within a binding circle, the cowardly blindlighters gang up on the girls wherein one survives the assault.

Intended as a continuation of the first film, like Pazuzu returns {or is it also Lamashtu...}, I found it a delightful surprise to encounter Regan appearing to comfort her mother, who suffered quite a striking blow, as in "an eye for an eye".

_____________ * Also recommended as a basic alphabetical & mathematics learning tool!

Don't underestimate little Abigail... she's a killer, and it runs in the family. As a matter of fact, I actually felt proud on several occasions, like Wednesday to Gomez. Seems the resident "Renfield" Lambert deposits criminals for her consumption in an amusing deadly game of predation. Fortunately, the most irritating of the bunch is dispatched first.

Opening to Swan Lake, the tutu goes from white to red, although black in the first place would have been most appropriate! She's like Dracula's daughter, after all!

Upon realizing whose progeny they are dealing with, dreaded to all, they consider an option to desist, but it is too late. Whether the naughty blonde ditzy bimbo, the attractive goth {who looks like Jenna Ortega}, or the other pretentious amateurs. The Devil surpasses all.

Which brings to mind an appropriate quote "...Remember, Bethany. I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me..."; as well as The Haunted Mansion quote "...the house is all boarded up as if to keep something out, or is it to keep some thing... inside..." Indeed.

Speaking of Wednesday, one of the rooms very much resembles the Nevermore Academy library, wherein one can see the statue of Morticia and the headmistress of when she attended. I was almost expecting to also spot a portrait of King Diamond somewhere on premises!

Very bloody and dripping with gore, though with a dark psychological bent. The charnel pit solidifies the contemplation. Apparently, nosferatu herein veritably explode upon traditional methods of expulsion!

Dracommended Infernal progeny movie.