"The Devil Within", a film that I reviewed a couple of years ago is making some news. Lunar Motion Pictures recently released stills and a new trailer for "The Devil Within: Rise of Evil", which was recut and remastered for its VOD debut.

The film was recently release a couple of years ago, but the filmmakers recently released a new cut of the film that is faster paced, bloodier and sexier than its original version. The newly cut version is available now on Video-on-demand, Amazon and will be making it's Netfilx and iTunes debut later this year.

For more information on this film, you can goto: http://www.thedevilwithinfilm.com/

Press Release:

The audience spoke and the filmmakers listened. The Devil Within was originally released on DVD in June of 2010. In anticipation of its first appearance on video-on-demand, The Devil Within has undergone several changes. The film has been retitled The Devil Within: Rise of Evil and now, there is a new cut. The Devil Within: Rise of Evil is faster paced, bloodier and sexier than its original version.

At the heart of this horror title is a love story between Sirena (Elizabeth Di Prinzio) and John (Grey Damon). This relationship is put to the test at a pool party when Sirena’s rivals try to pull John away from her. As well, a killer enters the mix and he has his eyes set squarely on Sirena. Having sliced out any scenes that lagged in the original, this title is now more focused on what matters. This new cut introduces more blood in the film’s twist(ed) ending and gore fans will find something shocking in the finale. As well, the love scenes between John and Sirena are more explicit and the scenes of topless girls at the pool party have been extended! This latest version gives horror fans what they want: more violence and more sex!

The Devil Within: Rise of Evil has also been remastered. Many local Los Angeles artists have contributed to the film’s new soundtrack. Actress Elizabeth Di Prinzio adds her melodic vocals to a track. And artists Emii, Day Above Ground and The Sammus Theory also add rock tracks to the film’s score. With a new score and remastered audio on the release, the film has a fuller atmosphere and a faster tempo to the film.

The Devil Within: Rise of Evil stars the best in the horror genre. Actor Bill Oberst Jr. (Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies) plays the very creepy Principal Edwards. Oberst’s character stalks the party-goers and Sirena in a very strange fashion. What is he doing there? Actress Elizabeth Di Prinzio (Scary or Die) is the protagonist of the film and the focus of a shadowy figure. As well, Grey Damon (“True Blood”) plays John, Sirena’s very distracted boyfriend. When the alcohol flows, sexual conflicts and competitions begin. The tension increases when a mysterious killer enters the fray. What kind of a monster would murder a handicapped girl?

"The Devil Within: Rise of Evil": Official Trailer

The Devil Within

Year: 2010

Director: Tom Hardy

Stars: Elizabeth DiPrinzio, Sarah Kathryn Harrison, Bill Oberst Jr.

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Studio: Seminal Films

Running Time: 78 Mins

Finally, a horror/thriller that I reviewed that doesn’t involve people getting tortured, as the last three horror films that I reviewed, which it’s main purpose is to make you nauseated. Thankfully, it’s not the case with “The Devil Within”.

The film takes place in the Hollywood hills, where Serina is celebrating her eighteen birthday. Before the party, she and her friends are spooked when a street preacher tell them that doom is coming to them. They ignore these warnings and decide to have a night of sex, drugs, and alcohol with all her high school friends. Soon Serina’s party is going to come to a crashing end, as she finds out that the high school principal has a sick fixation over her and someone is killing all the guest as her birthday party is becoming one big bloodbath.

In the beginning of “The Devil Within”, I thought I was going be in for a film that has annoying teenagers and characters that I wasn’t going to be interested in. Even though the film has a couple of flaws, this was still an interesting thriller.

First time director Tom Hardy does good job with the direction here. One of the things that I liked about the direction was the way he was able to build up suspense with the way that he shot some the scenes. Even though, this film becomes predictable by the half way point, Hardy has a sense to try to keep your interest by creating tension in the way some of the scenes were shot. That what kept my interest. Hardy also does a good job in the way that he handles his actors performances. I thought that was one of the keys to why I enjoyed the film. The performances were controlled enough that you knew what characters you were going to like and what characters you thought were creepy and annoying to the point that you could care less about them. It helped get over the major flaw that this screenplay has.

Speaking of the screenplay, it was good for the most part. One of the things that Matt Dean does well with this screenplay, he sets the character up very well. He sets them up, so that everything in the end doesn’t come off as silly or doesn’t make sense with that character in particular. It doesn’t leave you with the feeling that the writer is just throwing stuff in for no apparent reason. I also though, Dean not turning this into a an annoying teens film or a film full of religious themes. It could’ve gone in either direction, but Dean is smart enough to make this story as your typical slasher film, instead of those things. The only thing that I had a problem had was the way that the killer was predictable. Dean doesn’t go a good job in making too obvious because you know its going to be either this character or that character, by the time that the party started. That has to do with the fact that he gives away too much, when developing these characters. This hurts this film, because the rest of this film is four star material. It’s a shame that it was predictable, as this should have been a very good film, instead of a good film.

“The Devil Within” overcomes it major flaw to become a good and entertaining thriller that worth a late night view.

Review Rating: Three Stars