Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support the IDS in College Media Madness! Donate here March 24 - April 8.
Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

The 'Devil'ish Cliffhanger

The Devil Inside

The latest documentary-style horror movie “The Devil Inside” pulls off a couple of neat tricks in its attempt to distinguish itself. Bonnie Morgan, the contortionist whose character receives the first full exorcism, is a joy (read: a horror) to watch fold herself into a demonic, bone-cracking pretzel.

The hints at the characters’ backstories, including that of the protagonist, Isabella, and the two priests function perfectly, each revealing the crack in the armor that leaves them vulnerable to possession. Furthermore, the inclusion of demonic transference — when the demon hops from one body to another — makes for a heart-pumping climax.

But none of those virtues could drown out the loud, profane sounds of audience disappointment when the action cut to black. Instead of an ending that does justice to the emphasis on character that made the film compelling, we get a cliffhanger that abandons all loose plot threads and instead redirects the audience to the movie’s companion website, therossifiles.com.

And when that, too, proves unsatisfying, we horror junkies are left either to clamor for or dread the inevitable sequel.

Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe