MY CALL: I don’t think it’s objectively fair to call this a good movie. But it’s definitely entertaining, and visually impressive from a gross gore perspective. So it’s certainly a good flick!
We are introduced to the graphic effects of this film in full force by very early scenes featuring a grotesque cow miscarriage on a family farm. Yeah, that’s the right tone.
Haunted by memories of their father’s (John Noble; The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) tormenting demonic possession, Graham (Christian Willis) is recruited by his estranged brother Jake (Dirk Hunter; Undead) to address their family history. Their younger brother Phillip (Charles Cottier) is not well, and his malady was inherited. That’s about the gist of it. The rural farm vibe harkens When Evil Lurks (2023), whereas the elderly horror element reminded me of Relic (2020). Still, this film is like neither in tone nor execution.
So now we can dive into the gross stuff. In a possessed, bloody fit, Phillip spits out a tongue-like chonk of flesh, which slithers away! What ensues captures a manic, awkwardly funny, Evil Dead 2 madness as the regurgitated glob of tissue skitters about the ceiling making almost giggle-like squeaking sounds. Some of the dialogue and gross visuals are awkwardly funny.
Paranoia and distrust escalate among the three brothers, and yet stranger developments ensue. Scenes of possessed chicken slaughter, a blinking eye emerging from a sticky festering wound, more “possessed” chunky festering wounds, and a squiggly demon is yanked from a wound. Yeah, this movie definitely has a body horror theme cast over this… perhaps possession movie?
The storytelling and scenes are rather erratic in the first hour. I felt the effects scene weren’t enough to compensate for the drama, distrust and mania that transpired. But in the last 30 minutes, as is typical in effects-driven movies, the effects amp up. Deformed hands emerge from possessed wounds. It’s gory, slimy, drippy, and all those delicious things. And then, yup, an entire malformed creature is birthed from a torso wound, and it grows and metamorphoses on screen to my squishy, disgusting glee. There’s a lot of gross to be enjoyed here. A lot! This slimy, gangly homunculus is a sight.
This movie is for gorehounds and gorehounds alone. Despite many typical possession movie tropes, the effects and gore carry the entertainment load. The execution and synthesis of the story is somewhat proficiently laid out, but desires a more creative touch with more refined writing. But the concept is cool, the acting is certainly good enough, and the effects are more than worth the price of admission. I had fun with this one. Director Steven Boyle did alright.