“The Devil Inside” is an awful movie. Everything about it is cringe-worthy … except for the parts that are supposed to be. Those are just lame. You would think that in a movie designed to scare people they could at least accidently make one scary moment, but they don’t. This film fails on every level.
The film centers on Isabella Rossi. She is the daughter of Maria Rossi, a woman who, 20 years earlier, murdered three members of the Catholic Church while they were performing an exorcism on her.
Isabella decides to go visit her mother at the psychiatric hospital where she is being held. While in Rome, she wants to learn more about exorcism so she sits in on a class being taught by the Catholic Church.
Accompanying Isabella is Michael, a documentary filmmaker capturing all of the events. They eventually meet up with two priests who perform exorcisms and try to figure out whether Isabella’s mother is crazy or still possessed.
This is the type of movie the public should be glad to have movie reviewers for to warn others not to waste their money. When this movie eventually comes out on DVD and is available at a local Redbox, the $1.06 to rent it would still be a monumental waste of money. Therefore, I’ve made a list of things that $1.06 would be better used on.
– Your local McDonald’s Dollar Menu: Even if you hate McDonald’s, you would still feel better about yourself eating a calorie-loaded McChicken than you would after viewing this film.
– Penny beers at Hawk’s Nest: You could drink 106 beers and still have enough brain cells left to realize just how bad this movie is. (Note, I do not endorse drinking over 100 beers in one night. However, spread out over several nights would be acceptable as long as you’re 21 and not driving.) Side note: These safety notes are still more interesting than the movie. It actually makes safety look fun in comparison.
– An on-campus movie: This week, ironically for me, “Tower Heist” is playing. I gave this film two out of five stars in a review a few months back. Yet, it’s still twice as good as “The Devil Inside.”
I could make a whole other list of things you would be better off spending your money on than seeing this film.
The film is shot in a “faux-documentary” style just like the “Paranormal Activity” films. Even though I’m a fan of the style, this movie manages to completely misuse it.
When done correctly, such as in “Paranormal Activity,” it can have a powerful effect and terrify you. When done the way “The Devil Inside” does it, a mixture of boredom and frustration will make you want to leave the theater. I’ve only been to three movies that actually made me want to walk out of the theater, and this is one of them. I stuck it out to the end though and was able to witness one of the worst endings ever. This is no exaggeration. The ending is terrible.
I hope by me writing this you’re not intrigued to go see the movie whatsoever. The ending alone is reason enough to stay home. Don’t waste your time, and more importantly, your money.
