Exorcismus
Aka: The Possession of Emma Evans
Year: 2011
Director: Manuel Carballo
Stars: Sophie Vavasseur, Stephen Billington, Doug Bradley
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: IFC Films
Running Time: 100 Mins
Some of my favorite horror films have been supernatural films. “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity come to mind. I know those films are hated, by some for being boring and unsuspenseful. But those films, I like a lot. I like them, because those films has a dark atmosphere that made them so frightening. This leads me to “Exorcismus” (aka “The Possession of Emma Evans).
Emma Evans (Sophie Vavasseur) is a teenage girl, who thinks that her family doesn’t understand her. She wants her independents and live free from responsibilities. But soon she will be forced to face the consequences of her actions, when she starts having unexplainable frightening fits that sends her to the hospital.
Her parents think that her problems are psychological or medical. After the parents find out that the tests weren’t unable to draw and conclusion, they are forced to look elsewhere for answers. Soon everyone will realize that there is something dark and sinner is happening to Emma Evans.
“Exorcismus” is a film that interested me, from the first moment that I received material regarding this film. The films clips that were posted on our you tube page sold me on the fact that it might be terrifying and interesting film. So was it terrifying or just pain boring?
For the most part, I would have to say that I was terrified with some of the things that goes on here. But what makes the film good, the way the tone of the film was executed by Director Manuel Carballo. He does a very good job making the tone of the film, very dark.. For a supernatural film to be effective, you have feel like your watching the characters being surrounded in darkness. I got that sense with most of the film’s scenes. Carballo does a very good job making everything so dreary, so when something happens, you feel shocked. There was couple of times in the film, where something shocking happened and comes off as shocking instead of it being laughable. It’s a credit to his direction, which make those scenes work. That’s when you know that a supernatural film is effective in providing tense moments. Carballo also does a very good job getting chemistry with his two main leads, Sophie Vavasseur and Stephen Billington. It’s the effectiveness of the two actors that make the scenes, especially towards the end that makes everything work very well. The performances add to the film’s intense atmosphere and makes everything work.
The other thing that contributes to the film’s success was the screenplay, which was written by David Munoz. He does a good job not rushing the action. I know that a lot of people don’t like films that take it’s time to get to the suspenseful parts, but these types of horror films have to develop it’s characters for those parts to work. Munoz does a very good job developing the main characters and their situation. I liked, how he takes time in the screenplay to follow the main character thought the terrible experience that she’s going through. It makes you care about the character and you want nothing bad to happen to her. The other thing that I liked about the screenplay, it provides some shock moments. By adding a shock moment or two, it keeps the viewer on edge and doesn’t make the ending predictable because you think that anything can happen. I wished more horror films kept people on edge, instead of following a formula.
“Exorcismus" is a very dark supernatural film that’s filled with shocking moments and strong lead performances.
“Exorcismus” is available nationwide on demand from IFC Midnight, via Comcast, Cox, Cablevision, Time Warner, and Bright House.
Review Rating: Four Stars
