★★½
The hair-raising horror/thriller Prey for the Satan, directed by Daniel Stamm, presents a distinct tackle the exorcism style. It stars Jacqueline Byers (Unhealthy Samaritan), Christian Navarro (13 Causes Why), Colin Salmon (Resident Evil), Virginia Madsen (Candyman), Nicholas Ralph (All Creatures Nice and Small), Ben Cross (Star Trek), and it’s the debut film for Posy Taylor.
Girls who work in male-dominated professions have needed to take care of numerous sexism, and exorcism is not any exception. On this planet of Prey for the Satan, the Roman Catholic Church has reopened exorcism faculties to be able to practice monks to carry out these rituals due to the rise in demonic possessions. Nuns are forbidden to coach within the discipline, however a professor sees the presents that Sister Ann (Byers) possesses and permits her to audit the category.
Sister Ann has handled the trauma of possession her complete life. Her mom was the sufferer of a demon when Ann was a baby, and the emotional harm of her mom’s violent outbursts plague Ann to this present day. It’s due to this that Ann works at considered one of these faculties to assist heal the bodily illnesses of the troubled whereas the monks work on the sufferers’ non secular situations. It isn’t lengthy earlier than she comes face-to-face with a demon she acknowledges because the one who tormented her mom. However can she save the soul of the younger lady that the demon now possesses?
Jacqueline Byers does a superb job as Sister Ann. She is decided, caring and charismatic. It’s troublesome to not root for her as she offers with the repercussions of outdated wounds and as her previous collides with the current. Posy Taylor does an exquisite job as effectively, because the a part of a possessed 10-year-old baby looks as if fairly a demanding position. She is sympathetic and candy with simply sufficient thriller to maintain moviegoers guessing.
Prey for the Satan thrives in its performing and cinematography. However whereas the actors and actresses carry out satisfactorily, the script is overly riddled with tropes and is plagued with its personal demon: predictability. There are additionally a number of subplots and plot factors that are left hanging. The film begins with a daring assertion: the variety of possessions is on the rise. However it’s by no means defined why, nor does it add to the plot.
One of many explanation why The Exorcist was so groundbreaking—and heartbreaking—was as a result of the sufferer of the possession (Regan) was so harmless. Since she was so pure, it made the possession extra horrific and heinous. The writers for Prey for the Satan attempt to flip that on its head by having the victims on this movie take care of trauma and guilt. They aren’t unhealthy individuals, however they’re tormented. Nevertheless, this isn’t examined in distinctive methods. As an alternative, they make the most of drained tropes which viewers have seen time and time once more.
For moviegoers particularly within the temper for a thriller with some horrific components and a few nice soar scares, Prey for the Satan could also be simply the ticket. Regardless of the predictability, it’s nonetheless a enjoyable journey and a good film so as to add to the exorcism subgenre.
