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. Good cast, original story, so you know, that's that. Its a garishly happy affair, already marked with a portent of doom. Honestly, one of the better horror comedies in a while, and I'll tell you why; the comedy fits the horror. Just search below. The story is not only a different take, but is also . No matter how bad that story might be. 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. Obstacles both practical and supernatural thwart Avas happy ending here in ways that should satisfy many genre fans, if not the most reverent, at fests; on video, the pic should have a modest reach. She hosts and produces the interview series, Collider Ladies Night, a show geared towards highlighting the need-to-know female voices in film and television. Ava's Possessions. Instead of focusing on her possession, this movie asks the question, what is life like AFTER your demon has been exorcised? Metacritic Reviews. Spirit Possessions Anonymous, where the d-word is a big no-no. A girl recovering from demonic possession is forced into therapy, but flashbacks make her doubt the origin of her troubles. Young gal Ava (an excellent performance by Louisa Krause) is forced to join a Special Possessions support group in the wake of being possessed by a demon. 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. "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. So what is this movie really? It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. Practically the entire cast gets whats needed to make this film work. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 3 days to finish once started. Were happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. 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I just watched this movie and I kind of liked it. 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. Throughout "Possession," we view Anna through Mark's eyes, always tinted in blue, her visage becoming more eldritch and terrifying with time. It was more of a mystery than a horror film, but it was certainly a thriller. I mean "entity." When Ava is in her apartment with Ben she gets a phone call. 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. The 12 steps for possessed people is genius. The acting and story are very well done. Dont want to miss anything on the site? This comes as a blow to Max, who is a musician . It's a fun ride we have some really, aa for people who are possessed seems wild. A young woman recovers from a demonic possession. This is a perfect horror movie for a chill night. 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. Making its world premiere at the 2015 edition of the SXSW Film Festival, the film takes the unorthodox route in demonic possession stories by picking up the story post-exorcism. Demonic possessions are a well-trod trope in horror movies, but most of them end with the exorcism. Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site. When I read the premise of this movie, I knew I had to see it. Shes left trying to put her life back together and figure out exactly what she did in those 28 days all while grappling with her demons constant attempts to return. IMDb Critical reception for Ava's Possessions has been mixed and the film holds a rating of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 16 reviews. Very often in horror comedies we get over-the-top ridiculous humor with intentionally silly gore and a simple yet coherent plot. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. I watched this movie on Netflix. Her family pushes her into accepting a plea deal that would spare her jail time or commitment in a facility for troubled ex-possessed people as long as she attended a rehabilitation program for the recently exorcised, as possessions are seen as a real, common phenomena. 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. Louisa Krause stars in the titular lead role Ava, a woman who's in the process of recovery after being afflicted by demonic possession. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Yes, you read it right. . With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. and 'It was negative space, like a donut hole.'. Normally, a possession movie ends with the victim baths in sunlight or in some cases wanders into the dark. There have been sequels to exorcism movies of course and they show a sort of aftermath, but this is an "original", without any background as to what happened before. and our The problem is it tries to be so many things at once than its mostly none of them. 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. Youll want to know how it ends, but may come to dread which way the evidence is pointing. The cast was great, the cinematography was appropriately oddball (so many Dutch angles! Having no memory of the past month, she agrees to sign on with a support group for people like herself in hopes of undoing the damage done in her life (as well as having the charges against her dropped). This is where Wass Stevens steps in as Tony, the head of Spirit Possessions Anonymous. Bernard: Are you still smoking marijuana? The well developed psychological, horror thriller avoids the by now over-used blatantly scary scenes and instead uses a more Hitchcock-directed approach. FAQ not wacky enough to do justice to a tantalizingly-wacky concept. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" A little heavy on plot and the horror lacks a bit of a bite, but the demons are quite cute and it's creative and colorful enough to keep the attention. But in making amends with the people she wronged, she uncovers a plot deeper than mere possession. The film ends with Ava rebuilding her life and working with Tony in the facility office. Tired of possession and exorcism movies? More at The story afterwards, fleshed out more and the comedy was gone. And as expected, just like in the mafia, you dont walk away scot-free. Please correct me if Im wrong once youve seen the whole show! Ava is recovering from demonic possession. It could be because I was high while viewing, but I feel the story leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. The results land on the dismissible side. I enjoyed the different take on possessions and what happens after its over. If nothing else, this film is quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu have signed on, THR reports. Don't make this any more serious than it already is. Ava must now make amends with those she affected during her possession and take action to see that the spirit does not re-enter her. You need to give Avas Possessions a chance. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. That is the way to connect to the audience, and this movie does it well. Ooops. It becomes so much more relatable, and that makes the comedy work. 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. Just another solid pickup for a dollar. Ava learns from therapy that though she has been freed of possession, she was still very vulnerable to those beings. At the same time Shai wonders, as others do, if Erans death was retribution for marrying Natalie a sign that Maybe she wasnt his. For more information, please see our PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. A Bedouin kitchen worker hangs a white dress from a tree after witnessing the bloodbath at the reception. Project: Nightlight Has Delayed March 3 Release, New Beta Early Access Gameplay Trailer Gives Diablo IV Fans a Taste of Hell [Video]. Film: Ava's Possessions (2015) So what do we have here? Ava's possession opens with a exorcism sequence (which is as original as it can be) which lasted for 28days but soon ava discovers that she has caused serious emotional and physical damage, resulting in her losing her job, friends, and boyfriend, as well as potential jail time. This amateurish mess of a movie tries to be a horror/comedy but falls flat. The story itself isnt without subjective flaws, mind you. This is the one. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. 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. 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. Ava's Possessions is a 2015 American supernatural comedy horror film written and directed by Jordan Galland. Perri's a proud graduate of Columbia University's Film MFA program and member of the Critics Choice Association. What I loved about this film is that the comedy feels like it belongs. A support group that helps her readjust herself after having a demon inside her fucking things up. 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. It does take away from the fun of the film a bit and the resolution isnt all that satisfying either. "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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. But in a genre where possession is old-hat, it's rare to see a fresh and unique take on the material. 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. 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 . By the time the cake cutting begins, Eran is dead. Ava (Louisa Krause) plays her part extremely well, both as a demon and a regular woman. Your guide to every single Israeli TV show and movie you can stream right now, Tunisia Boosts Security for Lag BOmer on Djerba. [1] Entertainment Weekly wrote a mostly favorable review, criticizing it for having too many plot threads in one movie but stating that "Krauses deadpan wit, coupled with the inspired scenes at Spirit Possessions Anoymous, make Avas Possessions a fun, fresh take on a genre staple. When the lead character attended a meeting of 'Spirit Possessions Anonymous' I thought this may be similar to 'Scary Movie', 'Naked Gun' and other satirical comedies, but no such luck. He can be reached at [emailprotected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter. Gotham Knights Horror Icon Doug Bradley Playing Iconic DC Villain in The CW Series! (You're not supposed to say the D word - inside joke with the movie). Isabela Merced(Rosaline) has also joined the cast, we learned earlier this week, and The Hollywood Reporter brings us more casting news. After that first flush of interest, though, its draw is largely obligatory. See production, box office & company info. 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. There is a good story as well, one that has layers of mystery that get peeled back every so often. Ava was possessed by a demon. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. During their sessions together, Ava expresses attraction towards Caleb. I'm generally skeptical of anything Hollywood calls "multicultural." It's usually a cover phrase for "objectively without value except for raising your social . But though shes eager to protect herself from her uninvited spirit guest, another member of the group wants hers back. Is it passed genetically though too?? Cooky. Roger drives Ava to Tony's now empty classroom, where he forces her to put on the necklace and bring back the demon, as he believes the two of them had a connection. Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. and then there's the small matter of a large bloodstain on . I almost stopped watching there and then but decided to keep on going for a bit. Evil Dead Star Lou Taylor Pucci Battles a Tasmanian Devil in Devil Inside. Participants will ultimately be tested by wearing a necklace that invites the demon back into their body. Its more comedy than horror, but it mixes enough to make it a decent watch. Flaws and all, Ava's Possessions is still something genre fans tired of the usual possession story willing to try something new will enjoy. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Im reasonably confident you wont be quick to solve the murder mystery at the heart of Possessions. If you do work out the exact whys and wherefores before, say, episode four of six Im more than a bit worried about you. 2016 R 1h 29m DVD Rent this movie. It really is still a bit of a guessing game that you play until the end, which offers not only a nice reveal but wraps the story together nicely as well. Other reviews already mention the unnecesary subplots. Her only clue to the person's identity is an engraved watch that leads her to Ben (Lou Taylor Pucci), who tells her that it belonged to his father. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's basically jail, or join a group a lot like AA but for possession victims: Spirit Possession Anonymous. 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. In fact, Im surprised Ive never considered the idea much before. 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).