Demonic (D- or .5/4 stars)
'Demonic' (directed by Neil Blomkamp, of District 9 fame) is a sci-fi horror flick that, well, is fairly horrible -- more on that later. Melancholy Carly (Carly Pope) is having nightmares about her mother, Angela (Nathalie Boltt), who is now in a mental facility for committing a murder spree many years ago. An old, estranged friend, Martin (Chris William Martin), visits her & explains that he briefly took part in a medical experiment at a shady facility called Therapol ... where he saw Carly's mother in a coma. To that, the doctors in charge at Therapol want to meet with Carly.
Carly reluctantly goes there to rural British Columbia and, chief physician Michael (Michael J. Rogers) & neuroscientist Daniel (Terry Chen) strap her into a machine that will project her into a digital version of her elderly mother's comatose subconscious {yes, you read that correctly}. The point? So that the doctors can see deep into Angela's demonic possession; as to why she did what she did so long ago {yes, you read that correctly}.
Carly uses this unique opportunity to release some pent-up angst towards her mom, but much to her surprise, she receives a stern warning, instead. It is not her mother who is summoned by this technology, but something much more sinister. Angela's demon haunts Carly in her day-to-day life. Matters conclude after a ridiculous - and inert - climax in which Carly must quite literally face & fend-off the demon. Chaos ensues.
All the elements for a fun horror movie are present in this low-budget affair, and yet, tedium obstructs any 'fun'. Director Blomkamp made a splash with 2009's District 9, but his follow-up works, Elysium & Chappie disappointed ... and now we've got this crud. There is no quality to the plot. There are no real scares. There is no suspense. And worst of all, there is no emotional connection to the characters, whatsoever. After watching Carly for 104 min., I still had no idea who she is, other than a woman who hates her mom & abandons her friends. This 'scary movie' is without personality and, I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Carly reluctantly goes there to rural British Columbia and, chief physician Michael (Michael J. Rogers) & neuroscientist Daniel (Terry Chen) strap her into a machine that will project her into a digital version of her elderly mother's comatose subconscious {yes, you read that correctly}. The point? So that the doctors can see deep into Angela's demonic possession; as to why she did what she did so long ago {yes, you read that correctly}.
Carly uses this unique opportunity to release some pent-up angst towards her mom, but much to her surprise, she receives a stern warning, instead. It is not her mother who is summoned by this technology, but something much more sinister. Angela's demon haunts Carly in her day-to-day life. Matters conclude after a ridiculous - and inert - climax in which Carly must quite literally face & fend-off the demon. Chaos ensues.
All the elements for a fun horror movie are present in this low-budget affair, and yet, tedium obstructs any 'fun'. Director Blomkamp made a splash with 2009's District 9, but his follow-up works, Elysium & Chappie disappointed ... and now we've got this crud. There is no quality to the plot. There are no real scares. There is no suspense. And worst of all, there is no emotional connection to the characters, whatsoever. After watching Carly for 104 min., I still had no idea who she is, other than a woman who hates her mom & abandons her friends. This 'scary movie' is without personality and, I couldn't wait for it to be over.