Skip to content

Movie Review: The Devil Inside

Written By:

Katherine McLaughlin
the_devil_inside_review

Review: The Devil Inside (15) / Director: William Brent Bell / Screenplay: William Brent Bell, Matthew Peterman / Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Even Helmuth / Release Date: Out Now

Director William Brent Bell has an obvious affection for The Exorcist (1973) unfortunately his attempts to update the premise with found footage and the spin of multiple demonic possessions doesn’t work. A contortionist, the spider walk, the use of the C word all nod to his fondness, but it certainly doesn’t live up to the quality.

The Devil Inside opens in 1989 with police footage and news coverage of a brutal trio of murders committed by Maria Rossi (Suzan Crowley) after a prayer meeting goes horribly wrong in a gory and promising prologue.  We are introduced to her daughter, Isabella Rossi (Fernanda Andrade), in 2009 as she attempts to discover the true reason behind her mother’s mental state, in the worry that it could be inherited.  Her father has passed and her mother is being held in a psychiatric hospital in Rome, Italy so she heads there with cameraman Michael Schaefer, to investigate and chronicle her quest for the truth.  Location shooting in Rome looks grand, but too much time spent idly following Isabella round the gorgeous city will have you shifting in your seat with boredom.

On arriving in Rome Isabella meets two priests who perform exorcisms not approved by the Vatican (think the Spectral Sightings duo in Insidious but with all the fun taken out). Father Ben Rawlings (Simon Quarterman) and Father David Keane’s (Evan Helmuth) side operation moves the story along as they agree to help Isabella in getting to the bottom of her mother’s condition but the characters were not fleshed out enough and their acting didn’t feel natural or reactive enough for the found footage perspective.

Crowley does a good evil Susan Sarandon impression and Ray Winstone style cockney accent when an exorcism is attempted on her and her bulging eyes are fascinating to watch but the scene unfortunately lacks any tension. Another exorcism scene features body contortionist, Bonnie Morgan, and it is a spectacle worth seeing. Unfortunately the film has serious pacing issues in the lead up to the exorcisms, it wastes a lot of time mumbling about the catholic tradition of exorcism, and uses lazy scares like dogs barking loudly to try and make you jump in the meantime. The religious aspect is obviously important in this film, and as Isabella is making her documentary, she walks in on an exorcism class that gives you all the information you need for the set-up of this film.  The filmmakers attempt to utilise the documentary style of the film with conversations in cafes and apartments could have been cut for faster pacing.

This is low budget horror at its worst, instead of playing with ideas or building on a good idea in a creative way, the filmmakers have chosen to rehash the limited exorcism tropes that have been seen too many times now.

After The Last Exorcism played out so nicely and effectively with some inventive ideas The Devil Inside takes the obvious, less challenging route and makes for disappointing viewing.  The premise was promising as was the opening scene but they missed every opportunity to do anything clever with it.

Expected rating: 5 out of 10

Actual rating:

Katherine McLaughlin

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More