That's shown with her name on the records in the office and a flashback to her telling Ava that she knows exactly what being possessed was like. I really liked this movie. I know I certainly wouldn't mind seeing a Spirit Possessions Anonymous TV show. If they made a second one I'd watch it. The first act of the film is absolutely brimming with hilarious and oddly practical concerns regarding Avas situation. says the actress. Film data from TMDb. This is one of the most original movies i have seen recently. Two teams of two pursue this goal. As someone whos seen quite a few possession movies recently, Avas Possessions is wildly refreshing. Which is not to say its quite the real world. Horror is in trouble if this doesn't become a cult classic someday. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. Overall this was a fun movie, with good acting, and some neat effects. 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. Furious, Ava begins screaming and the office door swings open, showing the shadow of Ava's demon. The film begins during the tail end of her . The plot is usually so out there that its more of just a viewing pleasure, but this can touch on a lot of aspects of life that we deal with all the time, and put it into the context of the story. Throughout "Possession," we view Anna through Mark's eyes, always tinted in blue, her visage becoming more eldritch and terrifying with time. 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. Director Jordan Galland (Alter Egos) puts. She gets some leads and finds some clues and eventually comes full circle. that explores the consequences of the events of a demonic possession in a grounded way. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. You need to give Avas Possessions a chance. There is a good story as well, one that has layers of mystery that get peeled back every so often. I spent the entire flick wondering why respected actors like William Sadler, Carol Kane and Lou Taylor Pucci (who is unrecognizable here) would stoop to participate in this sorry excuse of a film. Disneys Haunted Mansion Teaser Trailer Welcomes You Back to an Iconic House of Horrors! ("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. The 12 steps for possessed people is genius. Having wrought havoc on the public during her demonic spree, she is ordered by the court to a "spiritual possessions anonymous" group to reorient herself. I wont give too much away, but just know that it is rooted in tradition, strange and alarmingly ableist, Orientalist and so far as I can tell given the search terms that seemed apt invented for the show or at least obscure and troubling. A supernatural comedy that kicks off after the exorcism. Its a garishly happy affair, already marked with a portent of doom. Double A Horror Highway Favorite Opening Scenes In Horror. This is the one. 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. Yes, you read it right. However instead of taking her to the facility Roger instead tries to kiss her and reveals that he murdered the prostitute in order to keep her from telling anyone that he had visited her. Instead of focusing on her possession, this movie asks the question, what is life like AFTER your demon has been exorcised? When her family confirms this story, Ava's first question is whether anyone called in sick for her at her job. The family has sued Airbnb, the property owner, the rental manager, and the former tenants. Where precisely does it go off the rails? The struggle with a part of your life that is embarrassing to talk about or explain, all these things come out through the story and make Ava as a character feel just like someone you might know, or even mirror some things you've gone through before. Going back to that previously-mentioned stereotype within the film, Ava surprisingly doesnt receive much sympathy from her family, despite them knowing fully that she was possessed. It's a fun ride we have some really, aa for people who are possessed seems wild. 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. The only way for Ava to avoid jail time after all of her demonic misbehavior is to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group, where she and her fellow survivors talk about their feelings and learn skills to keep their uninvited spiritual guests away. I may be biased because I adore film noir, but I was impressed with this movie's plot. It premiered at the Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival in 2015, and was given a DVD and Video on Demand release in 2016. Add in a plot about Avas strained relationship with her family, and its a lot of threads for Galland to juggle, which is why the ending feels a bit rushed and unsatisfying. It doesn't go too extreme either way, and sits right in a perfect middle ground, even for those who are big horror fans. This complicates her attempts to make amends with those she injured while possessed, including a stranger named Conrad, the pursuit of whom opens up a whole new can of worries for poor Ava. Jessica Chastain stars in a new action-thriller revolving around an assassin, and here's how Ava ends and sets up a sequel. She reveals that she is behind temporary power outages that turn off Nathan's surveillance system, and that while they. Also, the ending is a bit abrupt with its rapid-fire resolution, and is a marked difference from the way the film was building up to this point. In "Ava's Possessions" it's just the beginning as the priest commences the procedure along with opening credit. If you love (deader than) deadpan stuff that is. Your guide to every single Israeli TV show and movie you can stream right now, Tunisia Boosts Security for Lag BOmer on Djerba. 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. "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. And a slut, another (played by Girls Jemima Kirke) adds. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group. You sorta acted like a mega bitch when you were possessed, one friend tells her. That is the way to connect to the audience, and this movie does it well. I could have spent hours exploring SPA, the cases Tony is dealing with and how having been possessed changes a persons everyday life, but eventually, the film shifts its focus to a mystery of sorts and thats where Avas Possessions loses a little momentum. Youll want to know how it ends, but may come to dread which way the evidence is pointing. She discovers that her mother had also previously been possessed by the same demon, hinting that their bloodline is predisposed to possessions. Watch Ava's Possessions Theatrical Trailer, The movie playing at around 55 minutes is. Ava: Are you seriously blaming me for being possessed? About 20 minutes in I had to check that I wasn't watching a series pilot. FAQ Unfortunately, the demon caused a great deal of injury, mayhem and property damage and, well, legally somebody has to pay for that and since it was all carried out by Ava's body, guess who's going to jail? Film: Ava's Possessions (2015) So what do we have here? The film ends with Ava rebuilding her life and working with Tony in the facility office. 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. Ava is just your average twenty something who's just been exorcised. Evicting a demon from its host is just the beginning. Metacritic Reviews. and they got a cameo from the god carol kane!!! Normally, a possession movie ends with the victim baths in sunlight or in some cases wanders into the dark. I'd recommend this movie if you like possession movies. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. So what do we have here? And as expected, just like in the mafia, you dont walk away scot-free. 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. The characters, particularly our protagonist, Ava, have enough depth and charm to make us care about each one as the story unfolds. But in making amends with the people she wronged, she uncovers a plot deeper than mere possession. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. B-. Now demonic possession is a sub genre where almost everything has been done, some perfected it, some tried there level best and. some.. well we'll talk about the devil inside (2012) some other time. Unwisely, Ava agrees to assist her friends flirtation with the underworld, going to buy spells from an occultist (Carol Kane, delicious in her forces-you-dont-understand warnings). I dont think that weve ever had a competent story (Exorcist 2, anyone?) PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. 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. I do recommend for anyone wanting to watch a mildly horror movie but I felt it was more drama then anything else. Throw in a bunch of bad dialogue and some skinless sex scenes and you have an attempt at a movie. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Bill and Teds Bogus Journey: 30th Anniversary Death Statue from Incendium Now Available for Pre-Order! David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu have signed on, THR reports. It was more of a mystery than a horror film, but it was certainly a thriller. Natalies mother, Rosa (Dominique Valadi), opposes the union and almost walks out. Oops, I said the d-word. 2016 R 1h 29m DVD Rent this movie. it's got a total sleazy noir feel but full of yuppie cunts, a detective story for the modern age. Visually weak as most of the setups are "people in a room talking". It works well at the beginning, but the more Ava learns and the deeper she get into this mystery, the more convoluted things become. Ava (Louisa Krause) plays her part extremely well, both as a demon and a regular woman. If nothing else, this film is quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. 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. There's quite the idea here, comically displays the aftereffect of the unfortunate event, but it becomes too busy with overload of subplots, colors and eventually too plodding for its own good. In fact, Im surprised Ive never considered the idea much before. That alone lends to a sort of relatable aspect that you don't often get with a horror movie. and 'It was negative space, like a donut hole.'. Aside from that, the movie does a great job of juxtaposing regular daily scenes with night scenes that are bathed in neon aesthetics. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. Evil Dead and Dont BreathedirectorFede Alvarezwill both write and direct a brand newAlienmovie forRidley Scottand 20th Century Studios, withCailee Spaeny(The Craft: Legacy,Pacific Rim Uprising) set to lead the cast. Just search below. Tired of possession and exorcism movies? Ava's Possessions. 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. Ava's Possessions is an American supernatural Horror Comedy film written and directed by Jordan Gallard. Obviously, the highlight of a possession film that tells the tale of the aftermath of a possession is going to be the story. Sign up for our newsletter HERE. "[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]. Her latest film puts her in the titular role of Ava and teams her up with director Tate Taylor after . 2016 R 1h 29m DVD Rent this movie. The best movie with Ava in the title since Avatar. 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. The Day of the Triffids Amazon Studios Miniseries in the Works, Wreck Review Infectious Horror-Comedy Series from Hulu Isnt Quite What You Think, Children of the Corn Review Eleventh Entry Pleads a Strong Case to Let the Franchise Die, We Have a Ghost Review Gateway Horror Adventure Uses Ghostly Charms to Capture Family Bonds, Cocaine Bear Review A Raucously Entertaining and Gory Horror-Comedy, The Strays Review Netflixs Social Thriller Feels Like an Incomplete Experience, Six-String Samurai The Glorious Madness of a Dadpocalypse Epic You Maybe Havent Seen, Beyond Godzilla: Six OTHER Kaiju Movies You Need to Watch, Resident Evil 4 PREVIEW Impressions from Our Hands-Off Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Remake, 5 Deep Cut Horror Movies to Seek Out in March 2023. Its not just Rosa who resorts to ritual in the wake of the tragedy. Participants will ultimately be tested by wearing a necklace that invites the demon back into their body. This is a perfect horror movie for a chill night. The acting and story are very well done. is a hoot and the girl that kind of misses hanging out with her devilish infiltrator is just a wonderful idea. Ava is last seen approaching the helicopter that was supposed to pick Caleb up, but her conversation with the pilot is not heard. She believed that she should value death over having Jonah take her status and possessions and let her live like a prisoner. 2 May 2016. (You're not supposed to say the D word - inside joke with the movie). Louisa Krause leads as the title character, Ava. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. A semicomic mystery imagining what happens after the credits roll on a demonic-possession fright flick, Jordan Galland 's Ava's Possessions realizes the obvious it ain't easy to reenter . Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Don't make this any more serious than it already is. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. 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. I totally recommend Ava's Possessions because it had a twist AND a freaking cool cliffhanger. Evil Dead Star Lou Taylor Pucci Battles a Tasmanian Devil in Devil Inside. What I loved about this film is that the comedy feels like it belongs. It not only feeds into the mystery of just what her familys hiding from her, but also earns her the sympathy needed from the audience. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions . It does take away from the fun of the film a bit and the resolution isnt all that satisfying either. For more information, please see our I thought the idea was so unique, and I personally don't know of any other movies that show what happens to a person after the spirit they are possessed by is exorcised. The golden rule of spirit possession anonymous is never ever use that word. By the time the cake cutting begins, Eran is dead. This is where, I could have spent hours exploring SPA, the cases Tony is dealing with and how having been possessed changes a persons everyday life, but eventually, the film shifts its focus to a mystery of sorts and thats where. The movie does have a great way of making what is a horror trope feel like a regularity, and with that comes the mundane and irritation of every day life. 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. Basically OK - if it was a series for teenagers, Life following demonic possession is anything but easy, could've been better if they focused on the main plot more. Dont want to miss anything on the site? But Avas recovery efforts get bogged down by Hazel (Annabelle Dexter-Jones), a fellow Spirit Possessions Anonymous attendee whos developed an obsession with her former possessor and enlists Avas help to invite him back. Nadia Tereszkiewicz as Natalie in HBO Maxs Possessions. Courtesy of HBO Max. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. However, this scene is clearly established to be taking place at night. "[Review] 'Ava's Possessions' Takes Post-Demonic Possession In a Fresh Direction - Bloody Disgusting! Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. . Not completely.. So what is this movie really? Cooky. Ava's Possessions. Gallands film plays more like a cable-ready mystery than a cult film in the making, offering just enough chuckles to stay afloat. It is neither scary nor humorous. 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. Props to cinematographer Adrian Correia for presenting the films bright colour palette. Isabela Merced(Rosaline) has also joined the cast, we learned earlier this week, and The Hollywood Reporter brings us more casting news. It just ticks all the boxes and makes sure to play off some of the simple things those fans would know. The cast was great, the cinematography was appropriately oddball (so many Dutch angles! She is then recaptured and is put in a car with Roger, who is to take her to the asylum. Learn more. It happened . | Wth was that about? Vibrant, red blood splotches run down her mouth as she . and then there's the small matter of a large bloodstain on . After breaking into Hollywood with a number of prestige dramatic roles, Ava is the latest example of Chastain continuing her push into action blockbusters in recent years. It took the bold choice of not really showing much of the exorcism at all, you catch a glimpse right at the very beginning, starting things off where most films of this genre normally ends, but from. Possession, which was released in 1981, is the answer. 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. Bernard: Are you still smoking marijuana? Its more comedy than horror, but it mixes enough to make it a decent watch. The ending is atrocious. 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. She's now trying to figure out what went down when she was a demon. Ooops. The idea of AA for the post-possessed is another brilliant novelty in the film. 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. And you will also not believe that there is a sample of the screaming from the subway scene which is included at the end of PoesieNoire's song, "Pity For The Self" (1989). Just go watch and tell me what it made you feel. The relationship between the parents and the surrogate is very loving and there is a sense of understanding between them. But grisly visions continue to plague her . 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. All Rights Reserved. Flaws and all, Ava's Possessions is still something genre fans tired of the usual possession story willing to try something new will enjoy. 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). After being possessed for 28 days, Ava (Louisa Krause) is finally free of her demon. Facing multiple criminal offenses, Ava opts to go into "Spirit Possession Anonymous" where she meets Hazel who liked being possessed and wants to embrace her demon. Shes soon justified in her apprehensions. For me if they just stuck more to the world that a demon possession could offer would have been much much better. When Ava is in her apartment with Ben she gets a phone call. 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. Ava awakens to find a priest at her bedside; unbeknownst to her, she's been possessed by Naphula, a demon from hell, for the past month, but the priest has successfully exorcised the demon and she's herself again. Demonic possessions are a well-trod trope in horror movies, but most of them end with the exorcism. It happened in the dark, and when the lights come up, Natalie, her white dress now drenched in blood and her hand on the murder weapon, is the prime suspect. We get a strong sense that this movie is made for fans of horror, specifically supernatural and possession horror. . She then discovers that while she did kill Ben's father, he was only in the apartment because he was a hitman that Roger had hired to murder her, as Ava had seen Roger with the prostitute and then joined the two of them for a sexual encounter. IMDb Ava is recovering from demonic possession. I guess this is actually a serious attempt at a horror movie. Possession horror/black comedy mash up set amongst the NYC hipster scene. Other reviews already mention the unnecesary subplots. I think it hints that her sister performed a demon summoning ritual or something, but I don't understand why. This is a film that I've notice on Netflix a number of times, but for some reason or another I kept on passing it by. Definitely worth a watch, any way you can find it. 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. Jordan Gallands sharp satire Avas Possessions, on the other hand, follows the titular heroine through her demonic recuperation process, resulting in an irreverent, ingenious look at what it means to recover. On a related note, FX has a small screenAlienproject in the works at the moment, a plannedAlien television series from Noah Hawley. Perhaps they owed someone a favor. Unless she agrees to join a self-help group, the SPA or Spirit Possession Anonymous, that is. Gotham Knights Horror Icon Doug Bradley Playing Iconic DC Villain in The CW Series! It's a question not many movies have asked, so I sat down and took it in. Project: Nightlight Has Delayed March 3 Release, New Beta Early Access Gameplay Trailer Gives Diablo IV Fans a Taste of Hell [Video].