Wth was that about? Ava. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Funny and original demon possession film. Beginning where most, if not all, exorcism-related horror movies end, "Ava's Possessions" travels the path less taken, chronicling its titular character's recovery from a brutal bout with a demon name Naphula. and they got a cameo from the god carol kane!!! Perri's a proud graduate of Columbia University's Film MFA program and member of the Critics Choice Association. 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. The results land on the dismissible side. Shes soon justified in her apprehensions. 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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. A support group that helps her readjust herself after having a demon inside her fucking things up. PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. B-. 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. The first act of the film is absolutely brimming with hilarious and oddly practical concerns regarding Avas situation. David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu have signed on, THR reports. 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. It has a charming sense of humor and a wonderful visual eye, creating a sort of technicolor 60's sitcom palette at times. Youll want to know how it ends, but may come to dread which way the evidence is pointing. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. A capable production communicates the narrative without adding appealing energy. It's a fun ride we have some really, aa for people who are possessed seems wild. 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. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 3 days to finish once started. IMDb It kind of floats around, without much highs and lows, between the main character trying to figure out what happened during her possesion and her efforts to control a possible demons return. The film had its world premiere at the Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival on April 26, 2015. Bernard: Are you still smoking marijuana? Salems Lot: William Sadler Joins Adaptation of Stephen King Novel! Just another solid pickup for a dollar. After being possessed for 28 days, Ava (Louisa Krause) is finally free of her demon. Other reviews already mention the unnecesary subplots. 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. | 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. 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. Thats expected sometime in 2023. Is too bad this isnt good because the concept is gold. It does this by a subversion that presents problems of its own. Click herefor all of our SXSW2015 coverage orbrowse the links belowto check outmy other reviews: Perri Nemiroff has been part of the Collider team since 2012. When I originally heard about a little movie called "Tonight, We Stay Indoors" by no-budget filmmaker Joseph Larsen, I was intrigued in similar ways. It's a question not many movies have asked, so I sat down and took it in. What I loved about this film is that the comedy feels like it belongs. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The idea of AA for the post-possessed is another brilliant novelty in the film. Evil Dead Star Lou Taylor Pucci Battles a Tasmanian Devil in Devil Inside. Ava's family is of little help, as Ava gets the impression they are hiding something. 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. 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. But though shes eager to protect herself from her uninvited spirit guest, another member of the group wants hers back. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. Very often in horror comedies we get over-the-top ridiculous humor with intentionally silly gore and a simple yet coherent plot. Louisa Krause stars in the titular lead role Ava, a woman who's in the process of recovery after being afflicted by demonic possession. While Ava is struggling to clean up her apartment and mend fences with old friends (you sorta acted like a megabitch when you were possessed, one observes) she attends AA-like sessions led by the hard-nosed Tony (Wass Stevens). 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. Dont want to miss anything on the site? "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. ava's possessions (2015) horror movie explained in hindi | ambironaut | ava's possessions explained - YouTube 0:00 / 21:45 #ambironaut #avaspossessions #avaspossessions2015 ava's. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Instead of the classic horror movie reactions to things like possessions and demons, we get a more muted and organic comical touch. Ava (Louisa Krause) has a possession issue of which she is cured in the first scene. Throw in a bunch of bad dialogue and some skinless sex scenes and you have an attempt at a movie. Written and directed by Jordan Galland: Ava's Possessions is relatively unique as a mixture of possession horror and film noir, though it somewhat lacks the much needed energy and eagerness in pursuing its meandering narrative. She may even end up in jail for her crimes. . Her family and friends arent exactly sympathetic. See production, box office & company info. Rating: R (Bloody. 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. At the start of the film I was like WTF is going on is this a comedy. Possession, which was released in 1981, is the answer. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. Ava's Possessions is a 2015 American supernatural comedy horror film written and directed by Jordan Galland. 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. Don't make this any more serious than it already is. Basically a demon possesses this woman at certain times and manages to save her life, a time or two. there is an excellent twist that I was totally not expecting! 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. 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. Finally someone made a movie, that is so obvious, you really wonder, how no one came up with that simple yet brilliant concept yet. 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. Alter Egos was a solid second feature, but its pretty evident that Galland is taking a major step forward with this one. I don't care what the critics say. Isabela Merced(Rosaline) has also joined the cast, we learned earlier this week, and The Hollywood Reporter brings us more casting news. The prostitute is murdered before she can tell Ava anything. 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. Film data from TMDb. But is it enough to give viewers something different? 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. 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. I watched this movie on Netflix. 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). The SPA program requires members to talk to family, friends and strangers that they might have encountered while possessed so that they can figure out exactly what happened. what's the problem. Minus that flimsy ending, Gallands got every element of this film right on point. You need to give Avas Possessions a chance. The story afterwards, fleshed out more and the comedy was gone. 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. Want more horror movie reviews? You sorta acted like a mega bitch when you were possessed, one friend tells her. The ending is atrocious. In atmosphere the show often resembles a less pretentious True Detective and its initial intrigue is hard to resist. Hes an all-business kind of guy whos deeply dedicated to helping his group members free themselves from their demons once and for all. It was more of a mystery than a horror film, but it was certainly a thriller. Director Jordan Galland Writer Jordan Galland Stars Louisa Krause Whitney Able Deborah Rush See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video March 30, 2022. . Oops, I said the d-word. Jessica Chastain stars in a new action-thriller revolving around an assassin, and here's how Ava ends and sets up a sequel. Being possessed once increases chances of another possession tenfold, you see, and one must be trained to fight off that homesick evil spirit. For a while, Karim and Natalies team up is the weirdest thing about the show, which has the typical gritty police work and societal excavations one expects from Israeli prestige programming. I'd recommend this movie if you like possession movies. 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. TheAlienfilm franchise is currently six movies deep, with filmmakers including James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet bringing to the screen their own versions of the Xenomorph monsters that Ridley Scott and Dan OBannon gave birth to back in the 1970s. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group. Ava's parents (William Sadler and Deborah Rush), sister (Whitney Able), and her sister's fiance Roger (Zachary Booth) are all concerned for her. Two teams of two pursue this goal. In "Ava's Possessions" it's just the beginning as the priest commences the procedure along with opening credit. 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. Where precisely does it go off the rails? Directors Jordan Galland Starring Louisa Krause, Whitney Able, Deborah Rush Genres Comedy, Suspense, Horror Subtitles English [CC] Audio languages English. By the time the cake cutting begins, Eran is dead. This is one of the most original movies i have seen recently. A girl recovering from demonic possession is forced into therapy, but flashbacks make her doubt the origin of her troubles. and our I try not to be boring. | Now shes being charged with a variety of crimes including property damage, assault, indecent exposure and more. More at Natalie's mother, Rosa (Dominique Valadi), opposes the union and almost walks out. All Rights Reserved. Her immediate response is "How long was I out?" 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. Lonely and confused as to what exactly caused her to become possessed, Ava agrees to help Hazel's demon return via a ritual, which results in Hazel getting committed. From an acting and character standpoint, Krause nails it as Ava with a realistically straight performance. External Reviews Ava's Possessions is an American supernatural Horror Comedy film written and directed by Jordan Gallard. If they can pull the necklace off and reject the demon, they graduate since this shows that they are strong enough to deter future possessions. The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. Evicting a demon from its host is just the beginning. 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. Want to relax and get a horror fix but also have a few laughs? Ava is recovering from demonic possession. 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. Privacy Policy. 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 She believed that she should value death over having Jonah take her status and possessions and let her live like a prisoner. Film: Ava's Possessions (2015) So what do we have here? With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions . So what is this movie really? When Ava is in her apartment with Ben she gets a phone call. 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. A more traditional one than Joseph Larsen's very slow art-house approach. 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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. But that's all i am going to tell you. Overall, its a sexy and funny horror mystery, cool enough to be worth the time. I also dug the choice of colours used in the film. But in making amends with the people she wronged, she uncovers a plot deeper than mere possession. 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. Nadia Tereszkiewicz as Natalie in HBO Maxs Possessions. Courtesy of HBO Max. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. He throws her out of the program, as the tattoo makes it easy for the demon to return. That is the way to connect to the audience, and this movie does it well. She soon begins to sense that the demon is near and accidentally causes some boxes to fall, revealing some old files on former possessed people. He put together a strong ensemble, his shots are all well-composed, there are some stellar lighting choices that give the film a really unique flare and the music he got from Sean Lennon is spot on. Posters are sourced from TMDb and Posteritati, and appear for you and visitors to your profile and content, depending on settings. The movie takes itself serious, and doesn't at the same time. Ava is just your average twenty something who's just been exorcised. About 20 minutes in I had to check that I wasn't watching a series pilot. 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. Here, possession is commonplace enough the judicial system has a way of handling it: Either you can stand trial for all the crimes your body committed while you werent in control, or you can enroll in Spirit Possession Anonymous. Not completely.. Filming kicks off later this month. Still, its a nice alternative to yet another self-serious Exorcist wannabe. "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. For me if they just stuck more to the world that a demon possession could offer would have been much much better. Ava's mother makes a comment "who knew our family would be so susceptible to possessions" because she was possessed previously. [Exclusive]. He can be reached at [emailprotected]. We get a strong sense that this movie is made for fans of horror, specifically supernatural and possession horror. I really liked this movie. 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. Demonic possessions are a well-trod trope in horror movies, but most of them end with the exorcism. She's now trying to figure out what went down when she was a demon. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Possession (1981) Ending Explained. Which is not to say its quite the real world. 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 . Honestly, one of the better horror comedies in a while, and I'll tell you why; the comedy fits the horror. Sign up for our newsletter HERE. "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. Normally, a possession movie ends with the victim baths in sunlight or in some cases wanders into the dark. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. Ava is a deaf person, and she is the surrogate mother of Jenny and Max's child. It happened . 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. 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. 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. What does make this film a worth while watch is the performance from the main actress, coupled with the interesting, if not predictable, story. "[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]. Natalies mother, Rosa (Dominique Valadi), opposes the union and almost walks out. Ava's Possession doesn't rely on jumpscares, or even really anything to scare you other than the odd bit of strange makeup. Disneys Haunted Mansion Teaser Trailer Welcomes You Back to an Iconic House of Horrors! I do recommend for anyone wanting to watch a mildly horror movie but I felt it was more drama then anything else. The ritual also leaves a tattoo on her neck, which Tony discovers. Bernard: I mean, it's a gateway drug, okay? 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? Ex Machina's Original Ending But the ending was a bit confusing. The well developed psychological, horror thriller avoids the by now over-used blatantly scary scenes and instead uses a more Hitchcock-directed approach. If they made a second one I'd watch it. She reveals that she is behind temporary power outages that turn off Nathan's surveillance system, and that while they. 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. Sounds as fresh as it is with humor that isn't trying to be funny, but definitely is. At one meeting Ava meets Hazel (Annabelle Dexter-Jones), a fellow ex-possessed person that wants her demon to return since she enjoyed its presence and felt that it was "special" for both of them. Movies Explained. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Demon AA (sorry!) The film had its world premiere at the Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival on April 26, 2015. Learn more. . 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. Its situation comedy dealing with horror. He can be reached at [emailprotected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter. Its not just Rosa who resorts to ritual in the wake of the tragedy. 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. 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. 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. Still Alive Watch Demi Lovatos Scream VI Music Video Featuring New Clips from the Movie! Watch Ava's Possessions Theatrical Trailer, The movie playing at around 55 minutes is. I totally recommend Ava's Possessions because it had a twist AND a freaking cool cliffhanger. If nothing else, this film is quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. His death sends Ava on a self-destructive path, and she starts drinking again after years of sobriety. I guess this is actually a serious attempt at a horror movie. That alone lends to a sort of relatable aspect that you don't often get with a horror movie. Quirky and naturally charming in sort of deadpan way, Krause, like many other leads in similarly peculiar films, holds her own and delivers a good performance that I think could be even better without the script's limitations. it's got a total sleazy noir feel but full of yuppie cunts, a detective story for the modern age. While the mixing of different tones without going straight into horror wont be to everyones liking, its still a unique film that deserves a watch to see that not every possession film has to be told the same way. A Bedouin kitchen worker hangs a white dress from a tree after witnessing the bloodbath at the reception. Is it passed genetically though too?? Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Double A Horror Highway Favorite Opening Scenes In Horror. 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. Its not the expected smooth landing after the pleasant 89 minute flight. 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. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Obviously, the highlight of a possession film that tells the tale of the aftermath of a possession is going to be the story. Again, this part of the film is packed with clever concepts that are fun to consider. As I sat there, I was a little surprised were the story was taken, it wasn't your typical run of the mill possession movie. The back-story is a mismatch of flash-backs and hints from the family that don't accelerate the plot much. not wacky enough to do justice to a tantalizingly-wacky concept. 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. 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. It becomes so much more relatable, and that makes the comedy work. Ava's Possessions.