A possessed inmate reveals the operations of demons in humans in this unsettling thriller.
Release date: 14 April 2023 (USA)
Directors: Cary Solomon, Chuck Konzelman
Distributed by: Soli Deo Gloria Releasing
Based on: A Nefarious Plot; by Steve Deace
Box office: $5.4 million
Produced by: Sheila Hart; Chuck Konzelman; Cary Solomon; Chris Jones
Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Jordan Belfi, Glenn Beck, Cameron Arnett, Eric Hanson, Sarah Hernandez, Tom Ohmer, James Healy, Grifon Aldren
Summary
This mystery movie is primarily about a chilling conversation between a psychiatrist, James Martin, and a seemingly psychotic inmate, Edward Wayne Brady, who is on death-row. The psychiatrist, called in to make an evaluation of the inmate, has to determine if he’s actually insane (and so ineligible for execution) but ends up having the most petrifying conversation of his life.
The Demon Nefariamus (or for the purpose of the movie, (He who is) Nefarious) inhabits the inmate Edward and almost entirely takes over the dialogue with the psychiatrist James, and the discussion that ensues is alarmingly terrifying.
James, the psychiatrist, walks into the prison interrogation an innocent man and walks out of the room with 3 murders, attempted suicide, and a bestseller on his hands. Just like Nefarious told him he would.
Story-line
The story line is incredible, and rather biblical. It addresses issues such as MPD, bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, dual personality, etc. from a spiritual stand point. And delves further into socio-political issues such as euthanasia and murder, drawing parallels between abortions done in modern day clinics and child sacrifices made to the arch demon Molech in the days of King Solomon.
It also explores themes of theology, the origin story, man’s purpose on earth, the sinful nature, and eternity, all from the perspective of a fallen angel: one who has been there from the beginning, and witnessed it all, and is now inhabiting the body of a being made in God’s image, an act they perform all over the world to spite the Creator.
The Creator creates, and we destroy, and we do all of it through you. We always have.
Remember John 10:10? This movie gave me goosebumps.
In addition, it examines and exposes the practice of naturally declaring someone who speaks truth as being clinically insane or mentally deranged. It shows how humans are quick to dismiss preachers and truth-sayers as madmen (something that has been common since Old Testament days), and depicts our tendencies to believe lies and deceit over the gospel. The movie is undoubtedly a must-see.
Costume and Setting
There’s an insane level of simplicity in the costumes and setting. The entire movie’s budget isn’t up to 6 million dollars. Yet it is hands down one of the most captivating pieces of work I have seen this year, and arguably all my life. The story being told far surpasses any need for elaborate costumes, with the only requirements being prison gear, an empty room, a suit, a priest’s robe, and a table with a walkie talkie and some files.
That’s it.
The setting is similar to a one-scene movie, with the conversation between Edward and James being the focal point of the movie. And it’s all that’s needed to bring this enthralling tale to screens all over the world.
Cinematography
There’s not a lot of camera work done in the movie. It’s primarily a one-scene movie, like I said, interspersed with a few scenes of the prison, the psychiatrist’s home, the execution chamber, and the talk show platform.
There are, however, several scenes where great cinematography comes into play, like when the camera pans behind James’ back from one side to another and Flanery’s character switches from Edward to Nefarious. It’s beautifully done. But to be honest it doesn’t need to be. The story is enough to carry the movie to the highest possible rating without using any visual gimmicks.
Acting
Sean Patrick Flanery is absolutely amazing in this movie. His performance as Nefarious is breathtakingly similar to that of Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight, twitchingly eccentric and peculiar in mannerisms and conversation. He stutters, becomes pensive, anxious and jittery when he’s Edward, and he’s bold, calm, relaxed and eloquent when he’s Nefarious. The switch between the two characters is visibly apparent, and you can tell who is talking at every point in time.
The way he breaks down when he’s Edward is petrifying, and quite heartbreaking. When he asked for his last meal in tears from the prison guard and then switches from the anxious demeanour of a doomed cellmate to the calm veneer of a heartless killer, and cancels Edward’s order, I genuinely felt sorry for him. He had no pity for his host body, and you can tell that he wants to make him suffer terribly. This is further confirmed in his choice of the electric chair over the lethal injection, and his cracking of Edward’s pinky when he tries to tell James how to get the demon Nefarious out of his body. He consistently chooses the most painful route to go. The devil is not your friend, and he hates humanity with every cell in his metaphorical body.
Rating
5D
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dashing. Daring. Divine. Different. Dynamite.
Arguably one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
Captivatingly brilliant. I genuinely believe there’s a reason it currently has a 96% rating on Fandango and a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s the same reason you’ve probably not heard about the movie. It’s not being promoted, not being talked about, and I personally believe that Hollywood, the devil and the world system don’t want you to watch this movie, because your eyes will be opened to perspectives the world doesn’t want to acknowledge.
Weirder than the lack of awareness are the numerous incidents that tried to prevent this movie from successfully being finished. During shooting, the electricity came down, the sound mixer died, there was strong demonic opposition to its creation with groans and noises caused by a windstorm and heard every time they talked about the devil, and there were 8 car crashes in that occurred with the crew in 11 days. Not every movie has a ministry team and an exorcist on-set, but theirs needed one. Incidentally, the on-set priest/exorcist ruptured his appendix, and the roof of their building was completely ripped off. The ear drum of the marketing chief perforated, out of nowhere. Emails went missing, phones got lost, cars wouldn’t start, everything that was digital was in full revolt of the production.
You need to see it. You really do.
