Offers may be subject to change without notice. Don't make this any more serious than it already is. Hes an all-business kind of guy whos deeply dedicated to helping his group members free themselves from their demons once and for all. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. He throws her out of the program, as the tattoo makes it easy for the demon to return. It's really a disappointment when the end of a decent and likely unique and new look at post-Exorcist horror has a tacked on ending in the tradition of most clichd horror B movies. All the exorcism/possession movies end, after the exorcism - whether it went right or wrong, there's not much we get after that. Father Merrino (John Ventimiglia) extracts the demon and Ava takes controls of her body again, but she cant recall a single thing that happened since the start of her possession - and a lot of things happened. AVA'S POSSESSIONS (2015) After an exorcism expels her demon, a young woman joins an odd support group to piece together the mystery of what happened during her possession. It goes for a neo-noir horror mystery comedy, how cool is that? Want to relax and get a horror fix but also have a few laughs? A support group that helps her readjust herself after having a demon inside her fucking things up. All Rights Reserved. Nadia Tereszkiewicz as Natalie in HBO Maxs Possessions. Courtesy of HBO Max. Her latest film puts her in the titular role of Ava and teams her up with director Tate Taylor after . "Ava's Possessions" mixes crime mysteries and comedy with its horror themes, making it something that doesn't require you to be completely on edge. Louisa Krause stars as the titular Ava, a young woman that must learn how to put her life together after a demon is exorcised from her body. If nothing else, this film is quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. Bernard: Are you still smoking marijuana? A capable production communicates the narrative without adding appealing energy. The ending is atrocious. Its situation comedy dealing with horror. Bill and Teds Bogus Journey: 30th Anniversary Death Statue from Incendium Now Available for Pre-Order! The program is led by Tony (Wass Stevens), a gruff man that insists that Ava take the program seriously as to do otherwise would just raise the likelihood that the demon would return, as repossessions will frequently happen. That is the way to connect to the audience, and this movie does it well. Just when you think filmmakers had all but exhausted the demonic possession subgenre, giving us all that could possibly be wrung from it, along comes writer/director Jordan Galland and Avas Possessions. it's got a total sleazy noir feel but full of yuppie cunts, a detective story for the modern age. Learn more. Thanks again in part to Gallands script, the film succeeds in getting you to feel for Ava. Evil Dead Star Lou Taylor Pucci Battles a Tasmanian Devil in Devil Inside. She then rips the necklace off. Another movie that thankfully dispenses with the exorcism cliches and deals more with the after effects, in a comedic matter-of-fact way, with a splash of noirish mystery to it. Avas quest for the truth makes the film feel like more of a detective yarn than a straight-up horror flick, and Galland elevates the noirish tone with a heavy use of atmospheric neon. As someone whos seen quite a few possession movies recently, The idea of AA for the post-possessed is another brilliant novelty in the film. The film begins during the tail end of her exorcism. I do recommend for anyone wanting to watch a mildly horror movie but I felt it was more drama then anything else. Ava (Louisa Krause) has a possession issue of which she is cured in the first scene. Ava Dobkins (Louisa Krause) has had a difficult month.For the last 28 days was possessed by the demon Naphula, who did some very bad things while it was in control. Its not the expected smooth landing after the pleasant 89 minute flight. Even though none of it was really her fault, the only way she can get out of serving jail time is by participating in Spirit Possessions Anonymous, a group treatment program designed to help the formerly possessed prevent it from happening again. Just go watch and tell me what it made you feel. The first act of the film is absolutely brimming with hilarious and oddly practical concerns regarding Avas situation. If you know of any, please let me know in the comments, because I would love to see them. Possession can be fun! In "Ava's Possessions" it's just the beginning as the priest commences the procedure along with opening credit. The rest of the series, directed with a brooding flair by Thomas Vincent (the hand behind the UK hit Bodyguard), is devoted to discovering who actually killed Eran. Participants will ultimately be tested by wearing a necklace that invites the demon back into their body. Incredible, modern film noir. Shortly after coming to, she asks her family if anyone bothered to call out sick from work for her. That alone lends to a sort of relatable aspect that you don't often get with a horror movie. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. ", "Review: In 'Ava's Possessions,' Fallout From a Lost Month of Demonic Activity", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ava%27s_Possessions&oldid=1135691640, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 06:45. Debuting on HBO Max on Thursday, the French and Hebrew language thriller opens at the wedding of French expat Natalie (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) and handsome Israeli nonentity Eran (Valley of Tears Imri Biton dont get too attached). I mean "entity." 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Production companies: Ravenous Films, Traction Media, Cast: Louisa Krause, Whitney Able, Deborah Rush, William Sadler, Carol Kane, Lou Taylor Pucci, Wass Stevens, Zachary Booth, Producers: Jordan Galland, Maren Olson, Carlos Velazquez, Douglas Weiser, Executive producers: Mike Landry, Mark L. Pederson, Aldey Sanchez, Gregory P. Schockro, Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Movies Explained. Her friends are pissed because while possessed, she acted like a mega b*tch and slut. She also kicked the crap out of a guy at an ATM and a security camera caught the whole thing. The film takes the notion that society believes that possession is a real thing, and as such comes up with situations (such as the stereotype of being that type of person who gets possessed) that are kind of fun to explore. Louisa Krause stars as the titular Ava, a young woman that must learn how to put her life together after a demon is exorcised from her body. First are detectives Esti (Noa Koler, largely en franais as she deals with Natalie and her family) and her jaded partner Rafi (Tzahi Grad). Louisa Krause Whitney Able Deborah Rush Lou Taylor Pucci William Sadler Zachary Booth Wass Stevens Annabelle Dexter-Jones Carol Kane John Ventimiglia Geneva Carr Dan Fogler Jemima Kirke Stella Schnabel Joel de la Fuente Tarik Lowe, Traction Media Off Hollywood Pictures Ravenous Films, 89mins It could be because I was high while viewing, but I feel the story leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. Minus that flimsy ending, Gallands got every element of this film right on point. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. Ava (Louisa Kraus) is recovering from a demonic possession, after committing a string of crimes while under possession she is forced to attend a spirits anonymous group to avoid doing jail time and with little memory of the incident she has to piece together the details leading up to the possession to find out who put the curse on her. . They were really creative in showing possible life changes that occur after a possession. Freaking excellent! Tired of possession and exorcism movies? Not completely.. In spite of some great stuff in the story and performances, Avas Possessions does have some slips. Shes soon justified in her apprehensions. That's the purpose of Spirit Possession Anonymous. User Ratings Well, as grounded as things would get in this films universe. While in the group, Ava comes to learn that despite her parents Bernard and Joanna (William Sadler and Deborah Rush), sister (Whitney Able), and sisters fianc (Zachary Booth) being there for her during the ordeal, they seem to be harbouring a secret from her that hides a sinister truth about the possession. A priest (John Ventimiglia) successfully completes an exorcism on Ava (Louisa Krause), who is stunned to find that she has spent the last 28 days possessed by the demon Naphula. Dont want to miss anything on the site? Cookie Notice Fede Alvarezs Alien Movie Fills Out Cast With Four More Fresh Faces, Eli Roths Thanksgiving Cast Adds Milo Manheim, Scream Why Wes Cravens Classic Is Still the Perfect Scary Movie for Horror Newcomers, Nosferatu Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins the Cast of Robert Eggers Remake, Hellboy: The Crooked Man Adeline Rudolph and Jefferson White Join the Reboot, Poltergeist Amazon Reportedly Looking to Revive the Franchise, Agent Elvis Trailer Elvis Gets Bloody in Netflixs Adult Animated Series on March 17th, From Season 2 Teaser Trailer Critically Acclaimed Series Returns to MGM+ in April. Erans brother, Shai (Roy Nik), a newly Orthodox Jew, insists on renouncing his and Natalies Levirate marriage, a necessary ceremony so they can each wed again. (Re-summoning Hazels demon requires a trip to an occult shop, owned by a delightfully wicked Carol Kane.) Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. After an exorcism frees her soul, a young woman (Louisa Krause) attends Spirit Possession Anonymous and meets a fellow victim (Whitney Able) who wants her demon back. Props to cinematographer Adrian Correia for presenting the films bright colour palette. A nice take on the after effects of demonic possession. and our Ava is recovering from demonic possession. Avas Possessions picks up post-exorcism, as Brooklynite Ava (Martha Marcy May Marlene star Louisa Krause) wakes up with no memory of her 28-day possession. Throughout "Possession," we view Anna through Mark's eyes, always tinted in blue, her visage becoming more eldritch and terrifying with time. The second question Ava (Louisa Krause) utters, once she understands she has lost the last month or so to a demon whose behavior she has no memory of Did anyone call in sick for me? establishes that were in the world of quotidian details instead of operatic good-versus-evil. At the same time Shai wonders, as others do, if Erans death was retribution for marrying Natalie a sign that Maybe she wasnt his. Good cast, original story, so you know, that's that. The story has some ok twists, but I was hoping they'd be a little better to really pull it all together. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I guess this is actually a serious attempt at a horror movie. When I read the premise of this movie, I knew I had to see it. To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. As Ava struggles to reconnect with her friends, get her job back, and figure out where the huge blood stain in her apartment came from, she is plagued by nightmarish visions - the demon is trying to come back. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. All the other actors are just okay. Instead of focusing on her possession, this movie asks the question, what is life like AFTER your demon has been exorcised? Just another solid pickup for a dollar. and then there's the small matter of a large bloodstain on . BetweenAvas Possessions andAlter Egos, its pretty clear that Galland isa skilledworld builder. Ava. All caveats aside, Tereszkiewiczs magnetic performance as Natalie, the stunning shots of the Negevs sun-blanched dunes and the regular hiss of something sinister afoot along with a sleekly menacing score by French music collective HiTnRuN propel a mystery that resists easy answers and straightforward clues. Krause proves to be a likeable lead presence and she's well supported by the likes of Deborah Rush, Lou Taylor Pucci, Annabelle Dexter-Jones and a scene stealing performance from Wass Stevens as Tony, the leader of the possession group. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. At the start of the film I was like WTF is going on is this a comedy. I may be biased because I adore film noir, but I was impressed with this movie's plot. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. However, things change when the baby is born and revealed to be deaf. Horror is in trouble if this doesn't become a cult classic someday. He takes these very familiar big screen scenarios, puts his own smart spin on them and then he winds up with these especially appealing and thoughtful concepts that are a blast to consider well beyond the feature. Ridley Scott, who of course directed the original classic in 1979 and later returned for prequelsPrometheusandAlien: Covenant, will produce the movie via his Scott Free banner. This amateurish mess of a movie tries to be a horror/comedy but falls flat. And as expected, just like in the mafia, you dont walk away scot-free. Like open a new tab and stream this movie, watch it, then tell everyone you know. Alter Egos was a solid second feature, but its pretty evident that Galland is taking a major step forward with this one. After being possessed for 28 days, Ava (Louisa Krause) is finally free of her demon. However, Avas Possessions does manage to get away with it thanks to the appealing core concept, Krauses charm and writer-director Jordan Gallandsfirm handle on the material. Report this film. It does take away from the fun of the film a bit and the resolution isnt all that satisfying either. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. There is a good story as well, one that has layers of mystery that get peeled back every so often. A Bedouin kitchen worker hangs a white dress from a tree after witnessing the bloodbath at the reception. . "[3] The New York Times was more critical, writing that "Though at times pleasingly quirky, the story is too slackly written and insipidly photographed to entertain."[4]. Watch it with us: Netflix streaming Horror comedies and demon possession movies are both having a moment, but Ava's Possessions is the first film I've heard of that combines these genres.Director Jordan Galland's 2015 indie is an amusing genre mashup, but it also uses possession and exorcism as metaphors for mental illness and addiction, presenting horror not as a one-time event but as . From an acting and character standpoint, Krause nails it as Ava with a realistically straight performance. Unless she agrees to join a self-help group, the SPA or Spirit Possession Anonymous, that is. She is initially flippant towards her actions during this time, but soon discovers that she caused serious emotional and physical damage, resulting in her losing her job, friends, and boyfriend, as well as potential jail time. Demonic possessions are a well-trod trope in horror movies, but most of them end with the exorcism. 2016 R 1h 29m DVD Rent this movie. He went into Sophie's cell and gave her a written confession of her betrayal for her to attest, but Sophie chose not to sign it. But the ending was a bit confusing. But while trying to deconstruct a series of toxic relationships between Natalie, her parents, her beaus and Karim, her countrys clingy man in Israel, the series ends up painting her as an accidental and unfeeling femme fatale by fating the men in her life to tribulation and her to an ice queen veneer. It just ticks all the boxes and makes sure to play off some of the simple things those fans would know. There are subplots (such as Avas romance with Lou Taylor Puccis character) that feel underdeveloped and are subsequently left by the wayside in order to focus on the main story. The phones screen shows the time as 1:10 PM. ("We don't say the D-word.") Partway between the worlds, she can see the other world intruding into ours; or perhaps she had become nuts. You sorta acted like a mega bitch when you were possessed, one friend tells her. I dunno this should have been a pretty great dark/quirky cult movie, along the lines of Repo Man and After Hours and others like it. In fact, I actually think I might be able to enjoy upcoming possession movies more now that Avas has opened the door to considering what happens to a person post-exorcism. The Netflix series, created by Simon Barry and (loosely) based on the Warrior Nun Areala comics by Ben Dunn, stars Alba Baptista as Ava, a 19 year-old who wakes up in the morgue after having an angelic halo planted in her back.

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