This is not going to be so easy to describe without been a bit harsh at it, so Lee Daniels decided to take a go at the horror genre and it turned out he really missed the mark. I had some optimism going into this movie, not to be the Horror Queen of 2024 since its hard to overcome The First Omen (2024) that actually set the bar very high, isn’t that right?, Lee Daniel has a lot of skill in front of the camera, but this occasion feels like he took on more than he could handle.
Let's start with the basics, Andra Day plays Ebony Jackson, who is working to change her life. She’s a single mom with three children; all of them are shifting to a new house in Pittsburgh. Sounds similar to the start of every haunted house or possession movie or what about both like The Conjuring (2013), but this time things start to get a bit more interesting because Ebony has her own inner struggles and I'm not talking about issues of the supernatural.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196566/
- Platform: NETFLIX
RottenTomatoes Rating
Ebony comes from a substance abuse history and has a complicated connection with her mother, Alberta, played by Glenn Close. Close is extraordinary in this film, she's similar to a strange, white trash grandma who has a passion for Black men, and it's a bit unsettling, its just a character though, nothing against Cloe.
During the movie we start dealing with flies down in the basement, strange smells, and Ebony's youngest child, Andre conversing with a made up friend he calls Trey, well its just obvious and starts to turn into classic cliche, probably making it hard for the movie to be a hit unless the cast really send it out of the park, but they didn't. This is classic horror movie material, but it’s not what we are primarily concentrating on, we find ourselves in the territory of dysfunctional families, as Ebony grapples with keeping it together while managing her mom, kids and a social worker who’s always close by. You can tell how this is the perfect recipe for demonic possession if its not already present in someone.
You’d assume, given all this preparation that we would experience some major scares, well that's where things begin to lose their footing. The film takes its time like there is not rush at arriving to the supernatural elements, and when it eventually does, it seems to be trying to squeeze every possession movie stereotype into the final 30 minutes, there is such a gap they try to fill before the ending. We are referring to levitation, climbing walls and everything in between. It feels like Daniels finally came to terms with the fact he was making a horror movie and countered with the fact that it was all go and no show, all context to the family story and suddenly boom full blown exorcist but felt too late, its a very very average horror movie.
In the middle of the story telling problem there is the cast, in my opinion didn't perform bad and its the only reason I kept watching. Andra Day did a good job at it as Ebony. She's rough around the edges, she's authentic, and she generate some sympathy for this seriously flawed character trying to help her kids. Glenn Close played the role of Alberta but to me was kinda flat, but still with some unique energy in the role works well just to make things work enough so you keep watching, even when the dialogue becomes a little awkward.
For me the issue is that all this talent is wasted on a script that can't figure out what kind of film it wants to be. Is it a real drama that focuses on generational trauma? Is it a terrifying experience about demonic possession? It makes an effort to be everything and fails to completely achieve either.
This is not a debatable situation as most of the audience response to this movie in a very similar way with some people are appreciating the family dynamics, commending the performances and how they confront serious issues. A number of people are feeling let down by the horror aspects which, to be honest are quite unimpressive. The film seems to be wanting to be either 'Precious' concerning demons or 'The Exorcist' with its social commentary.
Personally, I recognize the intention behind what Daniels was doing here, he is trying to embrace serious themes and there are times when the movie definitely leaves a lasting impression. There is a remarkably strong relationship between Ebony and Alberta, and it is clear that their history takes over all of their interactions. As a fan of the horror genre, I felt nothing but serious disappointment from the script, the CGI is doubtful at best and the entire possession angle looks like an afterthought.
And please don’t have me discuss the ending, let’s just say it consists of a great deal of shouting at demons, a few convenient religious calls and a solution that seems overly rush. In some ways, it reminds one of Daniels desiring a neat conclusion, though this tactic somewhat diminishes the nature of the characters on this film
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