Battling demonic forces and the patriarchy run side by side in Prey For The Devil, Daniel Stamm’s (The Last Exorcism) new film. At times, the movie is a thrill fest able to hold your interest. Other times, it feels a bit hollow, rinsing out stories we’ve seen in other horror and possession films.
What to do? Well, it’s Halloween season. Don’t think too much about anything in Prey For The Devil. To truly enjoy it means to suspend any belief that the “devil,” or any kind of demonic force for that matter—something apparently so strong that it can possess a person—isn’t strong enough to, like the character of Carrie before it, bring down the whole damn house. But hey, this is Hollywood, not a Master Class on the power of the Gods. Even fallen ones.
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Prey For The Devil has one great thing going for it: Jacqueline Byers. As Sister Ann, a nun who feels called to be the first female exorcist, the actress is a joy to watch, and you root for her character. In fact, should the film find financial redemption at the box office—Black Adam has, and think about how many times you may have rolled your eyes throughout that creatively challenged film—there could be a sequel. And if there is a Prey 2, I pray Sister Ann opens a rebel nun academy. How interesting would it be to see seven nuns on the run, kicking demonic ass? But I digress. Let’s dive into this movie a bit deeper.
A Nun on a Mission
In Prey For The Devil, Sister Ann must answer a deep calling to become the first female exorcist. Battling the devil is a bold goal, but first Ann must go up against the Catholic patriarchy and find a place within a newly formed exorcism school that’s popped up in response to a global rise in demonic possessions. It’s no picnic at the boy’s club. Only trained male priests can perform the Rite of Exorcism, but Sister Ann has a unique backstory. When she was younger, her mother was “possessed.” Or perhaps mentally ill. Hard to know for sure, but for the sake of argument, let’s say Ann’s mommy issues are deeply rooted in spiritual brouhaha.
Basically, Ann is a nun to watch out for. The demon/devil in Prey For The Devil knows this too. “He”—it’s safe to assume that, once again, the devil totes the XY chromosome—wants “in,” as the movie poster tells us. But why? Well, there’s what happened with mommy way back there in the spiritual rearview mirror, so, there must be some unfinished business.
Ann finds an ally in Father Quinn (Colin Salmon), who recognizes her gifts and agrees to train her. She’s taken into the Catholic battlefield with fellow student Father Dante (Christian Navarro). There, Sister Ann must battle for the soul of a young girl, but Ann suspects she’s possessed by the same demon that tormented her own mother years ago. Some of the horror scenes that ensue are among the film’s best—and kudos the VFX team. Posy Taylor plays Natalie, the possessed young girl. Her body contorts. She climbs walls. Her eyes darken. Her skin blisters and scars. Her hair is sucked down her throat. What a mess. In approaching Natalie, Sister Ann suspects that she’s been drawn to her by the demonic force that wants something from her. Newfound ways of negotiating with the devilish force—and the spirit of the young girl—become a priority and as the film moves along toward its final act, Sister Ann and Father Dante strengthen their bond in an attempt exorcize the demon once and for all.
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Go Along for the Ride
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Robert Zappia’s (Search and Explore, The Tom and Jerry Show) screenplay—from a story from Zappia, and Earl Richey Jones and Todd R. Jones (In Living Color, Rio)—does an effective job of creating a compelling character in Sister Ann. Byers is an engaging actor. Every scene she possesses—had to say it—adds a refreshing level of authenticity to what we’re seeing, and her raw, believable performance is noteworthy. Byers holds the film together and the story of Ann. What she goes through, and where she’ll end up works to a degree.
It’s nice to see Navarro (13 Reasons Why) here, too, although the material never allows this otherwise compelling actor to fully come across as believable in the role of a priest. One gets the sense that in an era when political correctness is at an all-time high, having a Hispanic priest and an African American mentor (Father Quinn) was a kind of checking-the-PC-box thing, but one can never know for sure.
Other creative things are questionable—again, best not to overthink. However, it’s curious that Hollywood continues to lean into stories that showcase demonic possession primarily in women. As if to say… women are more susceptible because…? And after more than 30 years of Oprah, Deepak, and Eckhart, are we to believe that Catholic priests are still the only spiritual beings on the planet with a refreshing viewpoint and the power to cast out dark forces?
Don’t dissect it. When you slip into the seat of a roller coaster, you don’t necessarily question how the metal bars are made or the size of the wheels. You go along for the ride. If you can do that while watching Prey For The Devil, the thrills will sustain you. Sister Ann will intrigue you. You may even cringe at the effective VFX. That said, Prey For The Devil will be a lovely guilty pleasure—one you don’t have to take to confession.
Prey For The Devil hits theaters on October 28.
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