The Devil Inside (2012) – Review

Where to watch The Devil Inside

1 Star

The Devil Inside is the latest in the increasingly popular ‘found footage’ genre. With any luck the amateurish acting, vapid storytelling and laughable ending will put the final nail in the coffin for this type of film. The story (what little there is) centers on a young woman who travels to Rome in order to learn more about her estranged mother. Turns out back in the late 1980’s mommy dearest was responsible for the death of three people during an exorcism. Now two decades later her daughter is obsessed with the notion that evil exist in the form of demonic possession. So she sets out to document her findings on the matter. Eventually this leads to the offices of two priests that are preforming unauthorized exorcisms.

The only unique aspect to the film is that it takes the form of a pseudo documentary and not just some lost footage reassembled by an invisible hand (ala Paranormal Activity). In starting with this approach, the viewer is able to more easily get into the world that is being presented on screen. However very quickly this turns into just another clumsy, boring wannabe horror picture with one good jump early on followed by nearly 80 minutes of monotony.

There is always something disturbing when religious symbols are used in scenes depicting demonic presence. To that extent The Devil Inside is effective in its inclusion of defiling any and neary every sense of good taste. Be warned even if this is your type of movie, the ridiculous conclusion is such a cheat that any suspense or tension is immediedtly dispelled. The Devil Inside isn’t worth the digital camcorder it was shot on.

Director: William Brent Bell
Stars: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth