Succubus

I didn't have high expectations but the movie turned out to be quite good. It kept me on the edge of my seat and wasn't bored at all.

The actors were all good. Rachel Cook's performance was great. I was really surprised by it because after watching her previous movie (Kill Shot) I wasn't sure if she had much acting skills. But she was awesome in this one.

While the majority of the film was great, it completely fell apart in the final act. What an anticlimactic conclusion to an otherwise great little horror story.

Because of the stereotypical horror cliffhanger I would love to see a sequel especially if it doesn't pick up 6 months later but 20 years later or something like that. I think there is a lot of potential there.

(And just a sidenote: Was the full.frontal male nudity really necessary?)

Generally, the horror genre has not been the go-to category for streaming services lately, with most product mainly imitative, paying only lip-service to the classics. 2024 however has a different feel to it, with some very talented people, both in front of and behind the camera, approaching the core notion of horror from new and interesting angles. Check out for example the novel scripting in ABIGAIL, LONGLEGS, and the completely unforgettable (even if you actually want to) THE SUBSTANCE. SUCCUBUS 2024 continues this trend. Creator R. J. Daniel Hanna, best known for the well-received social drama MISS VIRGINIA 2019, goes genre-hopping here. He attempts to deliver a product that both scares and educates at the same time. The really scary (!) thing is that it almost hits both targets, with a tale that is unique enough to hold attention, and alert enough to flag the "horror" of Social Media in our daily lives. Perlman as supporting actor always adds gravitas to any production, and Rachel Cook will likely bring in enough of her worldwide fans to put SUCCUBUS on the 2024 Leaderboard. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Chris is in a strained marriage. His friend Eddie is divorced. The two of them chance upon an online dating site where they become helplessly enamored of an irresistibly seductive young woman who nurtures their deepest desires.

Unfortunately, appearances are terribly deceiving....

A professor knows the gruesome truth and tries desperately to intervene before it's too late.

Let's stipulate that this movie would go nowhere without a spectacularly beautiful siren to addle the minds of its principal characters. Her acting isn't exactly Shakespearean, but, really, who cares? The rest of the cast steps up reasonably well to backstop the homewrecker; hence, the movie's still an entertaining take on demonically induced, all too palpable mirages and their effect on stressed out family men.

All that's missing is a public service announcement.

This intense and visceral horror film about the dangerous and obviously seductive succubus (a female demon that preys on men) takes its material seriously. It is a slow burn of authentic plot design that portrays an estranged husband whose descent into terror is believable and realistic. This sinister movie has a credible message about temptation and its consequences using even some echoes from films such as John Cusack's superior occult horror 1408 (2007) and as well as his bizarre role in the highly rated Being John Malkovich (1999). The low IMDb rating could be attributable to the overall creepy and insidious nature of the succubus as depicted in this movie which would repulse women and terrify men. However, this movie by its end has both a bitter yet sweet ending of sorts and the excellent special effects and the creeping horror of its believable plot outline is worth remembering for anyone who lives on the edge of instability and wanton desire.

If you thought this movie will be full of sexy demon scenes, you are dead wrong. Half of the movie is this guy going to Tinder while getting a separation from his wife and feeling guilty about it. There are some funny interactions there, but that's not the subject of the movie. Instead it's this demon lady who has an obsession with him, and which also influences people through screens. Meanwhile, the one who knows most about the demon is Ron Perlman, who mostly talks to our hero... you guessed it... via video chat. Yes, people on screens making films about people on screens which you watch on a screen. Human experience in a nutshell.

Trust me, stay away from this.