Cards on the table…I’m not a horror fan. To be honest though, that isn’t really a problem with The Devil Came Home. Because, while it is a horror film of the demonic possession sub-genre, it doesn’t bury itself in the interminable tropes that are usually present. Let’s face it, that usually means all manner of gore splattery special effects, numerous jump scares, and extreme facial make up. All those things cost money so what do you do when you are on a very tight budget? You beef up the story! I’m not sure what the actual budget for The Devil Came Home was but it is obvious that it wasn’t huge.
Small cast of unfamiliar faces, limited locations, and any special effects that you see are more likely to have their origins with Alfred Hitchcock rather than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So all those factors just scream low budget but, as I have said many times before, low budget does not necessarily mean low standards. In fact, I have thought that would do some film makers a world of good if they had their budgets slashed and we could see what they would do to get around the shortage of funds. Who knows, they may come up with some ingenious work arounds that could revolutionise film making!
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You Can’t Help Having Nightmares
One of the biggest expenses is the cast. Big names tend to cost big money. However, it seems totally foolish to blow almost the entire budget on an A-Lister coming in to do a two minute cameo. Much better to find people who are talented but just starting out. Because, let’s face it, a film like The Devil Came Home is going to be relying mainly on two things…the story and the performances. The Devil Came Home relies heavily on its cast, and they deliver. The actors effectively portray the family’s strain and descent into terror. The story centres on a family whose lives are upended when the father figure’s PTSD takes a dark turn.
Tim and Elaine Baxter (Greg Hobbs and Diane Ellis) seem to have a very pleasant life. They have a nice looking house called Lakeview because it is in the countryside overlooking a lake. Now I know my assessment of their life as pleasant is mainly down to my advanced years; I’ve spent my time living in the centre of busy, bustling cities and am ready to settle down somewhere quiet. This isn’t so much fun Elaine’s daughter, Mindy (Jade Calendar) who doubtless finds it all a bit dull and isolated. Things start to get a bit more exciting when stepdad Tim starts having nightmares seemingly brought about by his years of military service.
I’ve Had A Few Breakdowns, At Least I’m Alive
Elaine wants Tim to get help but Tim is being too “manly” and trying to ride things out. This is alright until Tim hallucinates a message on the bathroom mirror and blames Mindy. He goes and drags her from her bedroom into the bathroom shouting and threatening her. When they get there and find that there is no message, Elaine threatens Tim with a break up which makes him go off to see a psychotherapist, Pete Richards (writer and director George McClusky). Everything starts off as usual for a PTSD sufferer but then things take a dark turn, blurring the lines between mental illness and demonic possession.
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The film builds tension steadily, keeping you engaged as the supernatural elements seep into the narrative and also delves into the psychological impact of war, adding depth to the horror. The Devil Came Home is a solid offering for horror fans who appreciate character-driven slow burns. If you’re looking for a gory scare-fest, this might not be it. But if you enjoy a thoughtful exploration of possession and the scars of war, this film is worth checking out, especially the way the cast and crew overcome the limitations of its low budget. The Devil Came Home is set for its UK digital debut on 24th June courtesy of Miracle Media.
Film Grade: B
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