The Blackcoats Daughter (2017)

There are spoilers.

Expectations:

I had zero expectations for this film. I was told to watch it for it’s “slow-burn psychological story.” I definitely enjoy this type of horror so I went in with good expectations.

Reality:

This movie is a must-see horror. It was Oz Perkin’s (son of Anthony Perkins, lead in Psycho) directorial debut, and he did a great job. There were beautiful shots, and I really loved the pacing of the film (slow, but not boring). This film puts a new spin on exorcisms and possessions — one that isn’t chaotic, but felt more “realistic.”

Overall, this is a film about loneliness and loss. Kat loses her parents and finds solace in the demonic presence, and a sense of purpose. This is what we do in relationships, and we can often find ourselves in the same spot Kat was when the demon left her after asking it to stay. She goes through loss again, and when she’s reminded of it in the car, with Rose’s parents, she serves the demon again, even though we can sense he’s not there. She can sense it to, which is what we can interperet the ending to be. She is still alone, and the purpose she tried to fulfill still left her empty, and you find yourself empathizing with a young girl who just decapitated the heads of dozens of people, including mourning parents. She’s completely alone.

In the very last shot, we still get a glimpse though, of the drive to maintain the evil duties. It was like watching someone break up with an abusive boyfriend and then decide, “I’m going to text him.” It’s a painful picture of the powerful impact loneliness can make on someone’s life. And to do this with a film about demonic possession is ART.