Director – Joey Moran (Pals, The Z Virus)
Starring – Joseph Rene (Dead of Night, Between Hell and a Heartbeat), Madeline Thelton (Big Bad, Furious in Alabama), and Chloe Lee (The Secret: Dare to Dream, Minari)
Release Date – 2017
Rating – 3/5
I hate how horror fans never give indie productions the same attention they do bigger releases. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good popcorn horror flick but indie productions tend to have more heart and originality. Sure, they may pay tribute to other films that inspire them but they typically take an idea and make it their own. A few days ago I was contacted to review the 2017 horror release The Demon Inside which was streaming for free on Tubi. I had never heard of this one and was really looking forward to checking it out.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows ex-con Sam (Rene) who lives with his wife and daughter but one day their life is tossed upside down when they discover that something sinister has taken residence in their home. Not knowing what to do next they turn to reality television show Ghost Killers for answers but soon realize that their evil presence is actually a demon and not a ghost. Soon blood begins to flow leaving Sam to face his own demons before his family is ripped apart. **Spoiler Alert**
The Demon Inside caught my eye with the poster. The title is a little lame and I don’t mean to be so rude about it but as someone that has spent most of his life searching for horror releases I can safely say that this title is one I would skip on title alone. The artwork really pulled me and the movie didn’t disappointment.
The acting in this one is inconsistent. Some of the cast delivers a more grounded performance that fit the style of the film but some of the other performances felt a little flat and almost lazy. I liked the characters but some of the cast felt like they were there for the experience and not fully dedicated to their roles.
The story for this one is pretty straight forward and simple. I liked it but there was some aspects that I could have lived without. I liked the reality show investigating the house and having a lead with a dark past. However, all the scenes establishing him as a family man over does it. Just one or two scenes to drive the point home would have sufficed but having it take up the first 30 minutes of the film is a bit overkill. This results in some long, drawn out scenes that really does very little for the actual story. Some of these scenes could have been trimmed.
Finally, the film has some seriously bloody moments that I was not expecting. The practical effects looks absolutely phenomenal and the deaths are always unexpected. They pack a punch and stand out. Honestly, the effects are my favorite part of the film. Overall, The Demon Inside doesn’t have the most appealing title but the film itself is a must see for genre fans. I really enjoyed it and if you give it a chance then I’m sure you will too. Check it out.
