devil inside

Review: The Devil Inside

What do we have here? It’s another found footage movie. While we’ve seen quite a few of these now, The Devil Inside is different from the other ones in some ways. they don’t use witches, ghosts, aliens or monsters that show up in new York City out of nowhere. this one is about exorcism and demonic possession.

After her mother Maria (Suzan Crowley) confesses to killing three people in 1989, a woman named Isabella (Fernanda Andrade) decides that she wants to know what happened that night. in 2009, she decides to investigate and go to Italy to see her mother who was transferred there several years earlier. While there, Isabella also seeks to learn more about exorcism in hopes of curing her mother of whatever problems she might have. She eventually meets two priests (Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth) who have been trained to handle these situations. Once they learn her story, they offer their assistance to Isabella and her cameraman Michael (Ionut Grama). It’s then for the first time that Isabella sees true evil up close and personal.

Maybe it’s me? Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t find movies about exorcism scary? I didn’t think The Exorcist was scary even though most of the other people I know did. it could be the reason why I didn’t like The Devil Inside or it could be the fact that this was a terrible movie? I heard that you should be careful about movies that released ahead of time for critics to review, because those films are usually bad. Now I actually saw a pre-screening, but it was literally less than a couple of hours before its official release. That’s not a good sign.

At least there were two good things about this movie. Fernanda Andrade was hot and the extremely small scene with the nun that looks like the actor Chris Cooper was cool. it wasn’t scary and I don’t think it was supposed to be, but the scene with the nun was the best part of the film and it had absolutely nothing to do with the movie. They’re were really no scary parts in this movie and that’s never a good thing. they simply used blood and gore in its place and that didn’t do anything for me.

The Devil Inside had so many problems and there were so many things that didn’t make sense. for example, the two priests that we see through most of the movie invite Isabella and Michael to film an unauthorized exorcism that the church doesn’t know about. they know that what they’re doing is against the rules, but they are willing to let them film it? To make matters worse, later on those same two priests are hesitant to allow Issy and Mike (I decided to give them nicknames for no reason) to film another unauthorized exorcism, because it’s against the rules and it may get them in trouble. How does that make any sense and why would you let them film in the first place?

There are too many holes in the story for me to go over without spoiling the movie for those of you who want to see it. So I’ll just leave it at that. Overall, this movie was too predictable and it offered no scares. I can’t fault the actors as they tried their best. they were respectable and played their roles well. they just didn’t have much to work with.

If you want to watch a great found footage film that was recently released, I suggest you watch Paranormal Activity 3 if it’s still in theaters or see it on DVD when it hits stores. If you’ve already seen that and you want to watch something new, then you might have to wait until the release of Paranormal Activity 4, but I don’t know when that’s coming out.

With all of that being said, something very strange did happen at the screening that I went to. I don’t know if it was the movie as a whole or the ending itself, but out of all of the screenings that I’ve been to, this is the first time that I’ve seen the audience actually boo at the end of the movie. I guess there’s a first time for everything.

Directors:
William Brent Bell
Joaquin Perea

Cast:
Fernanda Andrade
Simon Quarterman
Evan Helmuth
Suzan Crowley
Ionut Grama

Film Length: 87 minutes

Release Date:
January 5, 2012 (Limited)
January 6, 2012 (Worldwide)

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

`The Devil Inside’ review: It came from Hell

(PARAMOUNT)Simon Quarterman looks worried in “The Devil inside.” he should be.

I know it’s awfully early, but I think I’ve already heard my favorite movie slogan of 2012: “The Vatican does not endorse this film.”

I mean, really. Really? The venerable institution that signed off on the Crusades, the Inquisition and those Mrs. Paul’s fishsticks I had to eat on Fridays wouldn’t give “The Devil Inside” a pass?

Well, they were right.

This vile thing is a heck of a lot worse than Mrs. Paul’s tartar-sauced rectangles – and if my old school’s Dean of Discipline were still around, the cast and crew would all get a trip to detention and maybe a rap or two across the knuckles.

Of course, I should point out, this is all a marketing gimmick. In reality, the Holy see is not trying to keep you from seeing this movie (although the studio did try hiding it from critics). The Pope had nothing to do with any of this.

And if you’re smart, neither will you.

Made up of parts from “The Blair Witch Project,” “The Exorcist,” “Paranormal Activity” and “The Rite” – but not the best parts – it’s another one of those found-footage things, in which we’re supposed to believe that, no matter what happened, the cameraman never stopped filming (but also never bothered to buy a tripod or learn how to focus).

The film begins in 1980s America, when two priests and a nun come to exorcise a housewife. The night ends with three new martyrs, and a murderous madwoman soon on her way to an Italian asylum for the criminally insane.

Why Italy? Don’t ask yet. Just stay tuned as, 20 years later, her grown daughter now goes to Rome to ask that and a few other questions – accompanied by a wannabe documentarian and, eventually, two unorthodox priests.

And pretty soon it’s time for Italian curses, random violence, crude sexual suggestions, overturned furniture and raspy screams of “The pig is mine!” you know, like “The Real Housewives of new Jersey,” but without the shopping.

Without the budget, either. Horror movies don’t have to be lush – in fact, there’s a certain power to the ones, like the original “Night of the Living Dead,” that had to rely on chocolate syrup and a bucket of butcher’s offal for special effects.

But after “The Blair Witch Project” got by with sticks and stones and offscreen noises, filmmakers started thinking they didn’t have to show anything. Well, no. It’s better when you don’t show too much – but if your story is about the supernatural, eventually you’re going to have to come up with something.

“The Devil Inside” can’t.

Oh, it has a few nice European locations, and the smart idea of using a contortionist for one of the possessed victims. and Simon Quarterman, who plays one of the exorcists, is solidly believable, at least – he’s like what Hugh Dancy might be, with a worse agent.

But Fernanda Andrade makes no impression as the questing daughter. Suzan Crowley is merely screams and a frightwig as dear old Mom. and like many of its “inspirations” – legalese for “ripped-off sources” – the whole thing ends in a muddle of action and yelling and the by-now-obligatory shock cut to black.

“what the hell kind of movie was that?” the kid in front of me asked when it was all over.The kind not endorsed by the Vatican, supposedly. or, really, by anyone still in possession of their faculties.

Ratings note: The film contains violence and strong language.

‘The Devil Inside’ (R) Paramount (87 min.)Directed by William Brent Bell. with Fernanda Andrade, Suzan Crowley. Now playing in new Jersey.ONE STAR

Follow film critic Stephen Whitty on Twitter at @StephenWhitty

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Trailer Talk: This Week in Movies – ‘The Devil Inside,’ ‘Roadie’ & More

BENEATH THE DARKNESS

After a group of teens watches their best friend get murdered, they crusade to expose a local hero (Dennis Quaid) as the sadistic killer, while at the same time trying to avoid becoming his next victims.      

Director: Martin Guigui (“Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness”)

Writer: Newcomer Bruce Wilkinson

ORIGINALITY RATING: Medium.  The premise for this thriller is relatively common: there’s a really evil guy disguising himself as a good man.  one or more people know he’s bad, but others don’t want to buy into it since he seems “so nice.”  since Dennis Quaid normally plays such good natured parts though, it’s refreshing and even exciting to see him play a murderous psychopath.  His crazed performance in the trailer is enough to hook me into seeing this film.                            

WHO SHOULD SEE IT:  Thriller fans that enjoy movies like “Disturbia,” where teens take on a murderous villain living in their neighborhood.  if you appreciate Dennis Quaid as an actor, and you’re interested in seeing him play against type, then you should check out “Beneath the Darkness.”                     

WHEN TO SEE IT:  Opening night.

Fibromyalgia – The Devil Inside

In my case, the first unwelcome side effect after a meal laced with the excitotoxin MSG is blurred vision. I will spend 10-15 minutes blinking my eyes trying to focus my contacts, when in fact they have been in my eyes all day and for some strange reason I seem to be suddenly loosing focus.

Next comes the cellular pain. I can literally feel the excitotoxin being distributed to each segment of my body. every limb and organ will start stinging in pain as though you were waking up from a long nap and all of your nerves were still asleep. then my neck, shoulders and the bottom of the back of my skull will pulse with their migraine madness. Last but not least, the heart palpitations start and this, maybe the worst reaction of them all because the adrenaline and anxiety will drive you to extreme physical endurance. I once ran seven miles one night after not having run in 30 days, just to try to relieve the anxiousness I was feeling.

It’s like being in the body of the Tasmanian Devil engulfed in pain and at the exact same time having extreme exhaustion.

Every single day before I opened my eyes the familiar panic attack would start. I knew the satanic pain was on its way. it would take 2 BC Powders and 3 cups of coffee before I would be able to crawl to the shower. after all those chemicals entered the blood stream I was a manic mess. Never able to slow down, the internal tornado was at full force. I could talk so fast coworkers suggested I become an auctioneer. others would stare jaw dropped convinced it was a crack pipe.

But during the middle of the day I would look around the room and wonder if anyone else was feeling the same way. I remember telling myself this cannot be natural. do all human beings feel this?

Yes, I made appointments with every doctor, specialist and medical tech that I could afford. the answer was always the same; we can’t find anything wrong, just get this Rx filled and see me in 30 days.

For over 25 years I have been consumed in finding the cure to Fibromyalgia, to my daily pain. And what I have uncovered will help to heal you too

Video – The Devil Inside – Trailer – The Age

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