A support group that helps her readjust herself after having a demon inside her fucking things up. The SPA program requires members to talk to family, friends and strangers that they might have encountered while possessed so that they can figure out exactly what happened. The acting and story are very well done. Definitely worth a watch, any way you can find it. If nothing else, this film is quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" She's now trying to figure out what went down when she was a demon. Ava: Are you seriously blaming me for being possessed? Furious, Ava begins screaming and the office door swings open, showing the shadow of Ava's demon. And a slut, another (played by Girls Jemima Kirke) adds. Having wrought havoc on the public during her demonic spree, she is ordered by the court to a "spiritual possessions anonymous" group to reorient herself. . The ritual also leaves a tattoo on her neck, which Tony discovers. Horror is in trouble if this doesn't become a cult classic someday. If they made a second one I'd watch it. Production companies: Ravenous Films, Traction Media, Cast: Louisa Krause, Whitney Able, Deborah Rush, William Sadler, Carol Kane, Lou Taylor Pucci, Wass Stevens, Zachary Booth, Producers: Jordan Galland, Maren Olson, Carlos Velazquez, Douglas Weiser, Executive producers: Mike Landry, Mark L. Pederson, Aldey Sanchez, Gregory P. Schockro, Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. This is the one. [1] Entertainment Weekly wrote a mostly favorable review, criticizing it for having too many plot threads in one movie but stating that "Krauses deadpan wit, coupled with the inspired scenes at Spirit Possessions Anoymous, make Avas Possessions a fun, fresh take on a genre staple. There's quite the idea here, comically displays the aftereffect of the unfortunate event, but it becomes too busy with overload of subplots, colors and eventually too plodding for its own good. The concept, observing the aftermath of the protagonist's dance with a demon, lends itself to something clever and fun at the film's start, but the wit quickly dissolves into flavorless doldrums. March 30, 2022. . But the ending was a bit confusing. 2015 Overall, its a sexy and funny horror mystery, cool enough to be worth the time. Its situation comedy dealing with horror. It just ticks all the boxes and makes sure to play off some of the simple things those fans would know. Letterboxd Limited. After an exorcism frees her soul, a young woman (Louisa Krause) attends Spirit Possession Anonymous and meets a fellow victim (Whitney Able) who wants her demon back. Facing multiple criminal offenses, Ava opts to go into "Spirit Possession Anonymous" where she meets Hazel who liked being possessed and wants to embrace her demon. Ava's family chooses to commit her but Ava manages to gain a lead on Ben's father via a prostitute. As someone whos seen quite a few possession movies recently, Avas Possessions is wildly refreshing. Film: Ava's Possessions (2015) So what do we have here? Very often in horror comedies we get over-the-top ridiculous humor with intentionally silly gore and a simple yet coherent plot. "[2] Bloody Disgusting shared a similar opinion and noted that while the film was flawed, it had good acting and was "still a unique film that deserves a watch to see that not every possession film has to be told the same way. What does make this film a worth while watch is the performance from the main actress, coupled with the interesting, if not predictable, story. Spirit Possession Anonymous. Cooky. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Her immediate response is "How long was I out?" It could be because I was high while viewing, but I feel the story leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. Of course shes going to be liable for things like this. The back-story is a mismatch of flash-backs and hints from the family that don't accelerate the plot much. The only way for Ava to avoid jail time after all of her demonic misbehavior is to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group, where she and her fellow survivors talk about their feelings and learn skills to keep their uninvited spiritual guests away. Still Alive Watch Demi Lovatos Scream VI Music Video Featuring New Clips from the Movie! this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The halo cures Ava's paralysis and gives her superpowers, but also burdens her with the mantle of the Warrior Nun. This amateurish mess of a movie tries to be a horror/comedy but falls flat. A young woman recovers from a demonic possession. Movies Explained. Vibrant, red blood splotches run down her mouth as she . Add in a plot about Avas strained relationship with her family, and its a lot of threads for Galland to juggle, which is why the ending feels a bit rushed and unsatisfying. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions . Aside from that, the movie does a great job of juxtaposing regular daily scenes with night scenes that are bathed in neon aesthetics. It happened in the dark, and when the lights come up, Natalie, her white dress now drenched in blood and her hand on the murder weapon, is the prime suspect. Sounds as fresh as it is with humor that isn't trying to be funny, but definitely is. I could have spent hours exploring SPA, the cases Tony is dealing with and how having been possessed changes a persons everyday life, but eventually, the film shifts its focus to a mystery of sorts and thats where Avas Possessions loses a little momentum. Fun performances and unique ideas carry it. "[3] The New York Times was more critical, writing that "Though at times pleasingly quirky, the story is too slackly written and insipidly photographed to entertain."[4]. The golden rule of spirit possession anonymous is never ever use that word. | Sign up for our newsletter HERE. Written and directed by Jordan Galland: Ava's Possessions is relatively unique as a mixture of possession horror and film noir, though it somewhat lacks the much needed energy and eagerness in pursuing its meandering narrative. It not only feeds into the mystery of just what her familys hiding from her, but also earns her the sympathy needed from the audience. A semicomic mystery imagining what happens after the credits roll on a demonic-possession fright flick, Jordan Galland 's Ava's Possessions realizes the obvious it ain't easy to reenter . Accused Episode 2 Recap. Ever wonder what happens to someone post-exorcism? Is it passed genetically though too?? If they can pull the necklace off and reject the demon, they graduate since this shows that they are strong enough to deter future possessions. Ava (Louisa Kraus) is recovering from a demonic possession, after committing a string of crimes while under possession she is forced to attend a spirits anonymous group to avoid doing jail time and with little memory of the incident she has to piece together the details leading up to the possession to find out who put the curse on her. Which is not to say its quite the real world. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. The film takes the notion that society believes that possession is a real thing, and as such comes up with situations (such as the stereotype of being that type of person who gets possessed) that are kind of fun to explore. Its experimental story might not gel with those who are more accustomed to the possession subgenre, especially with the fact that the film doesnt venture into outright horror. FAQ . Obviously, the highlight of a possession film that tells the tale of the aftermath of a possession is going to be the story. Click here for Culture Crypt's interview with filmmaker Jordan Galland and star Louisa Krause. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 3 days to finish once started. Ava's parents (William Sadler and Deborah Rush), sister (Whitney Able), and her sister's fiance Roger (Zachary Booth) are all concerned for her. A more traditional one than Joseph Larsen's very slow art-house approach. Louisa Krause stars in the titular lead role Ava, a woman who's in the process of recovery after being afflicted by demonic possession. The Netflix series, created by Simon Barry and (loosely) based on the Warrior Nun Areala comics by Ben Dunn, stars Alba Baptista as Ava, a 19 year-old who wakes up in the morgue after having an angelic halo planted in her back. He went into Sophie's cell and gave her a written confession of her betrayal for her to attest, but Sophie chose not to sign it. Here, possession is commonplace enough the judicial system has a way of handling it: Either you can stand trial for all the crimes your body committed while you werent in control, or you can enroll in Spirit Possession Anonymous. Diane Warren Performs Her 14 Oscar-Nominated Songs in Six Minutes (Exclusive Video), Watch the Billboard Women in Music Awards, The Hollywood Reporter Names Jason Rovou VP Production and Development for Video, Penske Media Makes Strategic Investment in Vox Media, Ted Donaldson, Young Actor in 'Father Knows Best' and 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,' Dies at 89, Paramount Will Pay $122.5M to Settle CBS-Viacom Merger Lawsuit, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan, Heat and Natural Born Killers Actor, Dies at 61, Awards Chatter Podcast Malala Yousafzai (Stranger at the Gate), Feinberg Forecast: Updated Projections As Final Oscar Voting Gets Underway, Ted Donaldson, Young Actor in Father Knows Best and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Dies at 89, Hollywood Flashback: Catherine Martin Struck Gold With Moulin Rogue!, Star Hairstylist Jen Atkin Reveals Must-Have Hair Tools, Tutorials and Pro Tips In New MasterClass, Rihannas Puma x Fenty Is Coming Back Heres Where You Can Still Buy Those Cult-Fave Creepers, The Best Bridesmaid Dresses for Every Budget, From Under-$100 Gowns to Hollywood-Inspired Classics, BTS Army: Heres When and Where Legos Dynamite-Inspired Set Arrives Online and In Stores, The Big Lebowski Turns 25: People Didnt Get It, Jeff Bridges Recalls, How the Landscape of Native-Led Stories Has Changed Between Avatars: Were Flexing Our Sovereignty, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. The project is described as an original standalone feature, and THR notes that Alvarez wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues (Evil Dead). With her biological father falling miserably short in his parental duties, Duke filled that void for her. The movie takes itself serious, and doesn't at the same time. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. Writer/Artist/Gamer from the Great White North. Natalies mother, Rosa (Dominique Valadi), opposes the union and almost walks out. She gets some leads and finds some clues and eventually comes full circle. So the point is it's a risky sub genre, but comes this dark comedy AVA'S POSSESSION this was interesting and hilarious. Fede Alvarezs Alien Movie Fills Out Cast With Four More Fresh Faces, Eli Roths Thanksgiving Cast Adds Milo Manheim, Scream Why Wes Cravens Classic Is Still the Perfect Scary Movie for Horror Newcomers, Nosferatu Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins the Cast of Robert Eggers Remake, Hellboy: The Crooked Man Adeline Rudolph and Jefferson White Join the Reboot, Poltergeist Amazon Reportedly Looking to Revive the Franchise, Agent Elvis Trailer Elvis Gets Bloody in Netflixs Adult Animated Series on March 17th, From Season 2 Teaser Trailer Critically Acclaimed Series Returns to MGM+ in April. However, this scene is clearly established to be taking place at night. Ava is able to control the demon and use its abilities to capture Roger. Louisa Krause Whitney Able Deborah Rush Lou Taylor Pucci William Sadler Zachary Booth Wass Stevens Annabelle Dexter-Jones Carol Kane John Ventimiglia Geneva Carr Dan Fogler Jemima Kirke Stella Schnabel Joel de la Fuente Tarik Lowe, Traction Media Off Hollywood Pictures Ravenous Films, 89mins I'm not to sure, this is a genre I'm a sucker for and the kind of thing I just eat up, so I decided to finally bit the bullet and give it a watch. Creeping Dread and Isolation Accompany Gameplay Trailer for The Voidness [Watch], John Wick: Chapter 4 Clips Wick Comes Face-to-Face With Brand New Enemies, Extended Gameplay Trailer for Dead Island 2 Brings Plenty of Mayhem and Gore [Video]. She discovers that her mother had also previously been possessed by the same demon, hinting that their bloodline is predisposed to possessions. Flaws and all, Ava's Possessions is still something genre fans tired of the usual possession story willing to try something new will enjoy. Still, Krauses deadpan wit, coupled with the inspired scenes at Spirit Possessions Anoymous, make Avas Possessions a fun, fresh take on a genre staple. There have been sequels to exorcism movies of course and they show a sort of aftermath, but this is an "original", without any background as to what happened before. This is a perfect horror movie for a chill night. I'd recommend this movie if you like possession movies. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. Project: Nightlight Has Delayed March 3 Release, New Beta Early Access Gameplay Trailer Gives Diablo IV Fans a Taste of Hell [Video]. The film begins during the tail end of her exorcism. Quirky and naturally charming in sort of deadpan way, Krause, like many other leads in similarly peculiar films, holds her own and delivers a good performance that I think could be even better without the script's limitations. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. She hosts and produces the interview series, Collider Ladies Night, a show geared towards highlighting the need-to-know female voices in film and television. Ava learns from therapy that though she has been freed of possession, she was still very vulnerable to those beings. ("We don't say the D-word.") Partway between the worlds, she can see the other world intruding into ours; or perhaps she had become nuts. Just go watch and tell me what it made you feel. Film data from TMDb. Filming kicks off later this month. Im not a fan of this digital filming stuff, it looks horrible. As Ava struggles to reconnect with her friends, get her job back, and figure out where the huge blood stain in her apartment came from, she is plagued by nightmarish visions - the demon is trying to come back. A semicomic mystery imagining what happens after the credits roll on a demonic-possession fright flick, Jordan Gallands Avas Possessions realizes the obvious it aint easy to reenter polite society after spending weeks unleashing hell and then makes things worse. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. I just watched this movie and I kind of liked it. By the same token, the humour wont play well with everyone, even though its not flaunted. Want more horror movie reviews? Ridley Scott, who of course directed the original classic in 1979 and later returned for prequelsPrometheusandAlien: Covenant, will produce the movie via his Scott Free banner. He put together a strong ensemble, his shots are all well-composed, there are some stellar lighting choices that give the film a really unique flare and the music he got from Sean Lennon is spot on. It becomes so much more relatable, and that makes the comedy work. Directors Jordan Galland Starring Louisa Krause, Whitney Able, Deborah Rush Genres Comedy, Suspense, Horror Subtitles English [CC] Audio languages English. and they got a cameo from the god carol kane!!! (Re-summoning Hazels demon requires a trip to an occult shop, owned by a delightfully wicked Carol Kane.) And as expected, just like in the mafia, you dont walk away scot-free. Scattershot possession horror comedy that works for the most part even if it has more story threads than it can handle in one movie. It kind of floats around, without much highs and lows, between the main character trying to figure out what happened during her possesion and her efforts to control a possible demons return. BetweenAvas Possessions andAlter Egos, its pretty clear that Galland isa skilledworld builder. The story is not only a different take, but is also . When her family confirms this story, Ava's first question is whether anyone called in sick for her at her job. Ava's Possessions (126) 5.6 1 h 28 min 2016 X-Ray R. A young woman recovers from a demonic possession. After that first flush of interest, though, its draw is largely obligatory. Unwisely, Ava agrees to assist her friends flirtation with the underworld, going to buy spells from an occultist (Carol Kane, delicious in her forces-you-dont-understand warnings). Were happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. AVA'S POSSESSION doesn't really take off like a movie should. After escaping from her confinement, she kills Nathan, dons human skin and clothes, and leaves a begging and screaming Caleb behind in the locked compound. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. (You're not supposed to say the D word - inside joke with the movie). Honestly, one of the better horror comedies in a while, and I'll tell you why; the comedy fits the horror. Overall I'm a bit confused, but I enjoyed the scenes and vibes. | Alter Egos was a solid second feature, but its pretty evident that Galland is taking a major step forward with this one. Being possessed once increases chances of another possession tenfold, you see, and one must be trained to fight off that homesick evil spirit. Lonely and confused as to what exactly caused her to become possessed, Ava agrees to help Hazel's demon return via a ritual, which results in Hazel getting committed. All the other actors are just okay. He can be reached at [emailprotected]. there is an excellent twist that I was totally not expecting! "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. neon shot, deadpan delivered. Im reasonably confident you wont be quick to solve the murder mystery at the heart of Possessions. If you do work out the exact whys and wherefores before, say, episode four of six Im more than a bit worried about you. Double A Horror Highway Favorite Opening Scenes In Horror. The first act of the film is absolutely brimming with hilarious and oddly practical concerns regarding Avas situation. Ava's family is of little help, as Ava gets the impression they are hiding something. I dont think that weve ever had a competent story (Exorcist 2, anyone?) The last time Jonah saw Sophie, he wanted to give her a second chance. Just when you think filmmakers had all but exhausted the demonic possession subgenre, giving us all that could possibly be wrung from it, along comes writer/director Jordan Galland and Avas Possessions. What I loved about this film is that the comedy feels like it belongs. I try not to be boring. He takes these very familiar big screen scenarios, puts his own smart spin on them and then he winds up with these especially appealing and thoughtful concepts that are a blast to consider well beyond the feature. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. For me if they just stuck more to the world that a demon possession could offer would have been much much better. Also POSSIBLE SPOILER! No matter how bad that story might be. Relatively well acted with a unique spin on the possession genre. Her friends are pissed because while possessed, she acted like a mega b*tch and slut. She also kicked the crap out of a guy at an ATM and a security camera caught the whole thing. The struggle with a part of your life that is embarrassing to talk about or explain, all these things come out through the story and make Ava as a character feel just like someone you might know, or even mirror some things you've gone through before. You sorta acted like a mega bitch when you were possessed, one friend tells her. But is it enough to give viewers something different? Now demonic possession is a sub genre where almost everything has been done, some perfected it, some tried there level best and. some.. well we'll talk about the devil inside (2012) some other time. But in a genre where possession is old-hat, it's rare to see a fresh and unique take on the material. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. I thought the idea was so unique, and I personally don't know of any other movies that show what happens to a person after the spirit they are possessed by is exorcised. The story itself isnt without subjective flaws, mind you. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from. I think it hints that her sister performed a demon summoning ritual or something, but I don't understand why. It was more of a mystery than a horror film, but it was certainly a thriller. It doesn't go too extreme either way, and sits right in a perfect middle ground, even for those who are big horror fans. However, things change when the baby is born and revealed to be deaf. Salems Lot: William Sadler Joins Adaptation of Stephen King Novel! Louisa Krause stars as the titular Ava, a young woman that must learn how to put her life together after a demon is exorcised from her body. Practically the entire cast gets whats needed to make this film work. This is where Wass Stevens steps in as Tony, the head of Spirit Possessions Anonymous. It was pretty cool trying to figure out what's happening and putting the story together. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. THR adds, Plot details are being kept in a cryochamber, but as opposed to the other movies which focused on adults in corporate, militaristic and scientific roles, this now-ninth installment of the franchise will focus on a group of young people.. It's really a disappointment when the end of a decent and likely unique and new look at post-Exorcist horror has a tacked on ending in the tradition of most clichd horror B movies. Louisa Krause leads as the title character, Ava. Ava definitely comes across as someone who wants to get her life back on track, and at the same time trying to make amends for what happened.
Editor Decision Started Nature,
Judith Jones Independent Social Worker,
D's Delights Food Truck Menu,
Chiappa 1887 Lever Action Mare's Leg Shotgun,
Articles A