The Vatican forbids any recordings of exorcisms. At least, that’s what the “The Devil Inside†wants us to believe. And for good reason: We’ve seen it all already. That’s what you’ll be saying when you walk you away from this stinker of a first horror movie of 2012.
“The Devil Inside†is about Isabella Rossi going to the Vatican to see her mother, Maria, who is under their care because twenty years ago, she killed three people during an exorcism. Because of new regulations enacted in 1999, the Vatican cannot perform an exorcism unless they are 100% sure there is a demonic presence. Isabella is sure there is one and enlists the aid of two renegade priests to help her.
One second into the movie and everyone’s first reaction is “oh god, not another POV camera horror movie.†Sadly, it is one. It is filmed just like every other POV camera movie in existence, except this one is meant to be shot like a documentary. A documentary where the camera guy can’t keep his hands steady. It’s amazing- if this is supposed to look like a documentary, could it, or shouldn’t it, look a little more professional? The Travel Channel’s earlier shows were better shot than this.
Not to mention that each shot is sloppy and lasts only a short time. The only shots that don’t are those which are supposed to be the character’s “entry blogs.†It gets old. Fast.
The story itself lacks focus also. The movie is supposed to be about Maria’s possession and if it’s real. Instead, we only see very little of Maria and more of the Isabella and the two priests bashing the Vatican on how they are so bureaucratic about exorcisms nowadays. We only see Maria three times in the movie for very brief amounts of times.
Not to mention the story is so, “I saw that coming a mile away.†That’s right, the story is by the numbers in that we know exactly what will happen next. Even the ending will not shock.
The times we do see Maria are the only good parts in the film. Suzan Crowley does a great job as a possessed person who speaks in tongues, is foul-mouthed and abusive to the priests. Not to mention her facial expressions and body movements will make Linda Blair jealous.
Now the big question: is it scary? The answer is a resounding no. There is nothing scary about this movie whatsoever. The exorcism parts, which are meant to be scary, are not in the least. They have been done better in other movies and don’t invoke any sense of fear or urgency. They’re more comedy than horror. Not having any attachment to the cast plays a big factor in the non-scariness of the film.
Ultimately, this is a poorly done horror movie that lacks any scares, is shoddily written and features uninteresting characters, a “been there, seen that†premise and a story that lacks focus. If you are dying to see a new horror movie, this devil can wait a little longer. This one is not even worth a rental.
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