DVD Review - Exorcismus (2010)

Exorcismus (Spain: La posesión de Emma Evans), 2010.

Directed by Manuel Carballo.
Starring Sophie Vavasseur, Doug Bradley, Stephen Billington, Tommy Bastow and Jo-Anne Stockham.


SYNOPSIS:

A teenage girl's life changes when starts having frightening fits, which her parents attribute to psychological problems. However, she senses that something much darker is hiding inside her and waiting to break into the world.


From the producers of the successful horror saga Rec and Rec 2 comes the supernatural thriller Exorcismus. A Spanish film set in England, Exorcismus shares a similar theme and genre to the producers last efforts; the clue is in the title as the film deals with the possession of a young girl and the resulting attempt at an exorcism to free the youth's body of an evil entity.

The young girl in question is Emma (Sophie Vavasseur) a typically frustrated 14 year old who wishes to spend her time partying with friends, but is constantly nagged by her home-tutoring parents to do the opposite. The film opens with a confused and flustered Emma, self-harming herself in the family home, which is swiftly juxtaposed with her enjoying a computer game with her younger brother. Her hand is bandaged, signalling that her self-harming episode was in the past.

Due to a slightly confusing Tarantino-esque un-linear narrative structure, which is portrayed through erratically composed flashbacks, we are not provided with a transparent explanation of the origins of the young girl's possession. This serves as a suspense device which slowly feeds our suspicion behind the demon's seemingly random presence.

This attempted suspense, along with shaky cinematography and some classic regurgitation from the 'how to make a horror film' back catalogue; obligatory yet mildly effective techniques such as dark and looming establishing shots and point of view peering from behind innocuous bushes, creates the foundations for a watchable thriller. These qualities are marred by unnatural and clunky dialogue, wooden acting from the supporting cast and a budget which although evidently meagre, has not been stretched or supported by ingenuity or creativity. A larger portion of the intended suspense which should be enhanced through the acting has apparently been lost in translation.

Exorcismus does bear similar traits to the Rec series; the contained action within a sole building, the evil spirit vs. the priest and his uninformed accomplices and the ever-increasingly popular hand-held camera technique. Sadly these similarities are not as effectively utilised and for any wanting fan of the Spanish producers, their expectations will be dashed.

Exorcismus does have strong intentions and the film teeters along at an acceptable pace. With a few 'watch through your fingers' moments and a decent twist before the climax, it is at least an experimental effort with shades of a good concept for the producers to unashamedly add to their oeuvre. Predictions of few box-office receipts will surely force the decision to stick to native soil for their next outing.

Jamie Baker

Movie Review Archive

A selection of films to look out for in 2011

Last year the silver screen was once again dominated by sequels and remakes with seven of them (including Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland, Iron Man 2 and of course Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) populating the world’s highest grossing list.

However independent and lesser financed efforts still made their mark with strong representation coming from Britain, with Chris Morris’ dark comedy Four Lions and Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop among others, as well as claustrophobic war drama Lebanon and sci-fi love story Monsters pulling in high critical acclaim form across the waters.

This year kicks off with I Am Number Four (18 February). A supernatural drama where a teenager (Alex Pettyfer in the evocative title role) with extraordinary powers is hiding his true identity by posing as an ordinary high school student, only for the arrival of a deadly enemy who forces him to abandon his newly found comfortable surroundings.

Battle: Los Angeles (11 March) is another sci-fi spectacular where Michelle Rodriguez and her platoon of marines face off against a hostile alien invasion intent on destroying the city.

Zack Snyder is looking to extend his already impressive résumé with his fantasy dream-based, blood ‘n’ babe’s action fest Sucker Punch (1 April). Expect some stunning visuals and minimal clothing throughout.

The majority of the surviving cast return for Scream 4 (15 April), where once again Sidney Prescott is terrorised by a ghost-faced killer. Director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson are back on board to re-boot the ‘90’s franchise.

The amusingly titled Cowboys & Aliens (12 August) finds rope slingers Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford standing in the way of an alien takeover of the Wild West in 1873. Jon Favreau (Iron Man) directs.

A prequel to John Carpenters horror classic The Thing will reveal the events that directly preceded the battle at the American research facility in Antarctica, with Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s graduate student encountering the shape-shifting monster of the re-used title (released 14 October).

Sci-fi and horror aplenty this year, and with recognised names attaching themselves to these underrated genres will this be the year they flourish?

Jamie Baker

DVD Review - Betrayal (2009)

Betrayal (Norwegian: Svik), 2009.

Directed by Haakon Gundersen.
Starring Lene Nystrøm, Götz Otto, Kåre Conradi, Hary Prinz, Jørgen Langhelle, Fridtjov Såheim and Jockel Tschiersch.


SYNOPSIS:

A nightclub singer and British double-agent recounts her experiences in occupied Norway.


Set in occupied Norway amidst the Second World War, Betrayal concerns itself with opportunists who trade in liquor, cigarettes, lies and anything else they can utilise to their personal advantage and self elevation, in their bid to survive the money orientated battle of the class regime.

Tor Lindblom earns a fortune supplying the Nazis with any commodity they may desire through his popular ‘Club Havana’, a nightclub in Oslo which is frequently populated by the industrial elite, officers of the Wermacht and most importantly Eva, a double agent who works part-time for the Gestapo and performs at the club.

Eva, played by Lene Nystrøm (of 90’s pop group ‘Aqua’ fame) sneaks and cheats her way between no less than three lovers in order to gain their trust and steal their knowledge and secrets, passing them off to her wanted ex-boyfriend Svein Nordanger (Kåre Conradi) so that he can use the stolen intel against the Nazis. All the while she is surveyed by the watchful eyes of suspicious lover Major Krüger (Götz Otto) and newly instated accounts auditor Dr. Walter (Jockel Tschiersch).

It sounds a simple enough premise, but it is made hard work of throughout. The film fails to supply a protagonist, and the central character Eva hardly even gains the status of an anti-hero due to her lack of emotion and individual presence. From the outset we gradually gain access to the story through a series of un-profound introductions to each individual character and their whimsical (considering the setting) personal motives. They snigger and smile their way through the confusing and incoherent narrative tributaries in an unconvincing bid to sustain our intrigue.

The film trudges along at a painfully slow pace and never really picks up momentum until it we are within the third act; an extensive chase sequence, which to the filmmakers' credit does promote an aptitude of accomplished cinematography and regard for inventive and detailed mis-en-scene. It provides a relatively interesting but long overdue climax which finally reveals itself, albeit in a predictable manner.

You cannot help but feel that it is a case of too little too late. We are subjected to a complete lack of mood and intensity which is imperative for such an important genre and with no accessible care or concern for the characters plight and an overall visual experience more suited towards a lacklustre TV history documentary, Betrayal fails on most levels.

First time director Haakon Gundersen has not fully considered his audience; the seriousness of the story apparently overwhelms both himself and his actors with not enough attention being given to its progression or its doomed characters. With all of its individual faults the major issue with the film is its lack of heart, with the only real conviction emerging from Julia Schacht’s loyal secretary, who sadly obtains much less screen time than she deserves.

After the success of Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg’s intimate character study of a self-struggling saboteur in Max Manus, I am sure there was a quite some pressure on this latest addition to Norwegian war portrayals, but sadly, it crumbles under the pressure.

Jamie Baker

Movie Review Archive