D-6! After talking about ten ghost movies, let's now look at ten movies featuring demons determined to steal the souls of their victims!
The Exorcist
Among the list that follows, The Exorcist is certainly the most cult. Directed in 1973 by William Friedkin, it has not aged since and remains the reference in demonic possession films. Regan is a very normal child, until the day her behavior changes drastically. She becomes vulgar and aggressive. Her physical condition itself deteriorates, gradually transforming her into a repulsive monster. Doubt is no longer allowed: Regan is possessed by a demon. Regan's mother then calls on an exorcist to free her daughter. They are two priests who go to the house to cast out the demon who lives in the little girl. This is the story of this exorcism that the film gives us, full of emblematic scenes and particularly cheeky for its time. A must-see!
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Directed in 2005 by Scott Derrickson, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a film based on the life of the young German Anneliese Michel. Thinking she is the victim of demonic possession, Emily Rose, played by Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter), asks the priest of her parish for help. He will perform many exorcisms on the young woman in order to free her. Unfortunately these do not work and the girl ends up dying during an exorcism. The priest was then charged with reckless homicide. It is this trial that is recounted by the film, during which priests and parents will bring disturbing evidence to justice. The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a disturbing film because of its rational approach. Rightly or wrongly, the convictions of many people collapsed during this trial and the way in which the film has transcribed the events is quite interesting. Especially since Scott Derrickson perfectly masters the play of light, their meaning and offers us very successful plans!
To Hell
Directed in 2009 by Sam Raimi (the director of Evil Dead), Until Hell is an effective film that contains a few scenes that are remembered long after viewing. Christine Brown works at the bank and has always been very kind to her clients. But her generosity is not to the liking of her boss, who asks her to be firmer if she wants to get a promotion one day. When Mrs. Ganush comes to ask for a loan to keep her house, Christine has no choice and refuses, despite the old lady's pleas. In revenge, the latter casts the curse of the Lamia on Christine. Tormented by this demon, Christine seeks help from a medium, who advises her to remove the curse before this demon steals her soul. Countdown to hell, Until Hell is a film that takes to the guts as long as we get attached to the touching Christine. Until Hell even contains some enjoyable action scenes that Sam Raimi holds the secret of!
Conjuring: The Warren Files
Conjuring: The Warren Files caused a stir when it was released in 2013 and it did not deserve. Directed by James Wan, the film tells the true story of the Warren couple, with Ed being a demonologist and Lorraine as a medium. Putting their knowledge to the benefit of people in difficulty, especially the Perron family, they are called upon to intervene in many haunted places. Having just moved into their new home, the family witnesses many paranormal manifestations that end up putting their lives at risk. While they were about to end their work as parapsychologists to focus on writing, the Warrens decided to help the Perron family. The demon that torments them, however, is much more powerful than appearances would have us believe. Built with intelligence, Conjuring: The Warren Files is a very good horror film, which is not necessarily the case of its sequel Annabelle, directed in 2014 by John R. Leonetti.
The Rite
Anthony Hopkins is a very great actor who we have the chance to find in many films with a very dark atmosphere. His presence in a film is often a guarantee of quality and The Rite, directed in 2011 by Mikael Hafstrom, is no exception to the rule.Michael Kovak is a young seminarian who has never had faith and thinks that possession is only medical. As he prepares to leave the seminary, his superior tries everything to prove the existence of God: he sends him to spend time with Father Lucas, an experienced exorcist. Confronted with the full force of what he only studied through books, Michael will question himself in front of his inability to scientifically explain the facts that are taking place before his eyes. In the role of Father Lucas, Anthony Hopkins is bluffing and carries alone The Rite, which without him would probably be a little bland.
Sinister
Directed in 2012 by Scott Derrickson, Sinister is one of the most disturbing films in this selection. Between its sometimes very disturbed characters, its destabilizing scenario and its agonizing twists, Sinister can not leave his viewer indifferent. In the category of twisted and hateful characters, Ellison could win a medal. Author of detective novels based on real events, he has no qualms about moving his family to a house that was the scene of unsolved murders, only to facilitate the writing of his next novel. In the attic, this devoted father will find 8mm reels, which are none other than the murder records of entire families. These videos are obviously not spared to the viewer and seem to show that the cause of these killings is far from human and hangs over the head of his own family. Progressive and terrifying, Sinister does not let go until the very last minutes of the film, where the final revelation is constructed in such a way that it falls completely flat. Although disappointing on the ending that borders on the ridiculous that it dehooks the viewer, Sinister is a film to see because of the huge potential contained in the script.
Paranormal Activity
The only found footage of this selection, Paranormal Activity is a film directed by Oren Peli in 2007 on which it is impossible to ignore. Particularly controversial, this film follows a couple of young people convinced that their house is haunted. In order to be able to monitor and keep track of what is happening in their home, they install cameras in just about every room. Quickly the paranormal manifestations of which they are victims are caught red-handed by the cameras. Only the couple is only at the beginning of their sentences. The film is presented as a montage of all recordings made from September to October 2006, with the display of the days and times of the images. A film that could have been classic and banal, Paranormal Activity draws its originality from the intimate and realistic effect provided by the "surveillance camera" aspect. Whether we believe in spirits or not, we have all experienced one day or another one of the events recorded by their cameras and this is what makes the strength of the film. Paranormal Activity has three alternate endings, one of which was only screened during a public screening and another is the only one to have been screened in theaters because it is the only one that is compatible with the next five films.
Case 39
In Case 39, directed in 2009 by Christian Alvart, we find the talented Jodelle Ferland in the role of Lilith Sullivan, a ten-year-old child abused by her parents. Emily Jenkins, played by Renée Zellweger, is a social worker and rescues little Lilith from her family. Until she can hand the child over to a foster family, Emily takes the child home. Touched by this fragile little girl, she becomes attached to it and decides to keep it with her. Fate then seems to fall on her and her entourage. Worried, Emily begins to investigate and tries to understand why young Lilith's parents were so desperately trying to end her life. She discovers that, far from being the result of chance, the incidents that occur are none other than the work of a demonic entity. With a script that is not very innovative and the average direction, Case 39 is a film to see for the excellent interpretations of the two actresses and the touching relationship between their characters.
Mister Badabook
Symbols of innocence, children are a prime target in films about demonic entities. Mister Badabook, directed in 2014 by Jennifer Kent, succeeds brilliantly where many other films fail. Samuel, a six-year-old boy whose father died on the day he was born, suffers from night terrors and hyperactivity. Reading him stories to soothe him and put him to sleep, his mother Amelia finds a strange storybook: Mister Babadook. Samuel accuses this mysterious man of being the one who haunts him every night. When Amelia also begins to perceive Mr. Babadook's protests, mother and son will have to face the terrible threat to them together. Mister Babadook is a film about the difficulties of grief and the consequences it can have on the relationship between a mother and her son. A true metaphor and horror film with a successful bogeyman, Mister Babadook leaves his viewers the choice of his interpretation in a masterful finale. Playing with finesse childish fears, the film delivers a strong message in a way that can only satisfy horror film lovers.
Insidious
Directed in 2010 by James Wan, Insidious abandons a little too much a promising basic scenario in favor of the ease of jumpscares. Following a move, Dalton, the eldest son of the family falls into a coma and the house falls prey to violent protests. A medium comes to their rescue and explains that Dalton's soul has been kidnapped by an evil spirit during an astral journey and that this demon seeks to take possession of the young boy's body. His family will then have to do everything possible to save him. Where Insidious could have weaved a scary atmosphere, he suffers from showing too much. The anguish of suggestion is quickly swept away by the too many jumpscares and demonic representations, like its sequel and its two prequels. Despite these flaws, Insidious will satisfy an audience looking for instant and ephemeral fear and some startles.
A source of anxiety as old as the world, demons will remain for a long time an inexhaustible source of imagination for horror filmmakers. However, demonic spirits are not the only ones to be staged regularly and tomorrow we will see five films that focus on a completely different myth!
