"[2] Bloody Disgusting shared a similar opinion and noted that while the film was flawed, it had good acting and was "still a unique film that deserves a watch to see that not every possession film has to be told the same way. There is a good story as well, one that has layers of mystery that get peeled back every so often. External Reviews 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. Loved the idea, enjoyed the movie, but left with unanswered questions. Ava's Possessions. Accused Episode 2 Recap. Its more comedy than horror, but it mixes enough to make it a decent watch. 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 . 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 think it hints that her sister performed a demon summoning ritual or something, but I don't understand why. Please correct me if Im wrong once youve seen the whole show! 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. This is the one. 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. Is too bad this isnt good because the concept is gold. Ava is a deaf person, and she is the surrogate mother of Jenny and Max's child. Definitely worth a watch, any way you can find it. User Ratings Report this film. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. This movie drew my attention due to its somewhat original premise. Mobilesite. Its not just Rosa who resorts to ritual in the wake of the tragedy. 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. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" At the start of the film I was like WTF is going on is this a comedy. Horror is in trouble if this doesn't become a cult classic someday. Louisa Krause stars in the titular lead role Ava, a woman who's in the process of recovery after being afflicted by demonic possession. Ava's Possessions is a 2015 American supernatural comedy horror film written and directed by Jordan Galland. However, things change when the baby is born and revealed to be deaf. Ava's Possessions. Film data from TMDb. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group. When Ava is in her apartment with Ben she gets a phone call. Ava's Possessions 2015 R 1 h 29 m IMDb RATING 5.6 /10 3.3K YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 1:56 2 Videos 15 Photos Comedy Horror Mystery A young woman recovers from a demonic possession. 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. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. It was pretty cool trying to figure out what's happening and putting the story together. (You're not supposed to say the D word - inside joke with the movie). THR adds, Plot details are being kept in a cryochamber, but as opposed to the other movies which focused on adults in corporate, militaristic and scientific roles, this now-ninth installment of the franchise will focus on a group of young people.. Minus that flimsy ending, Gallands got every element of this film right on point. It sets a world where this kind of things seem normal and that feels nice, like getting something annoying out of the way. Ava definitely comes across as someone who wants to get her life back on track, and at the same time trying to make amends for what happened. But in making amends with the people she wronged, she uncovers a plot deeper than mere possession. All Rights Reserved. B-. Tired of possession and exorcism movies? Salems Lot: William Sadler Joins Adaptation of Stephen King Novel! Ava: Are you seriously blaming me for being possessed? He can be reached at [emailprotected]. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. But grisly visions continue to plague her . As someone whos seen quite a few possession movies recently, Avas Possessions is wildly refreshing. Read Perri's Ava's Possessions review from SXSW 2015; Jordan Galland's latest feature stars Louisa Krause, Lou Taylor Pucci and Wass Stevens. By the time the cake cutting begins, Eran is dead. 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. 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). 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 . 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. 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 trying to piece together her missing 28 days she discovers blood stains on her floor. TMDb 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. Very often in horror comedies we get over-the-top ridiculous humor with intentionally silly gore and a simple yet coherent plot. A French family has been left heartbroken after their 19-month-old daughter died during their Miami . The film had its world premiere at the Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival on April 26, 2015. When her family confirms this story, Ava's first question is whether anyone called in sick for her at her job. If they made a second one I'd watch it. Possession horror/black comedy mash up set amongst the NYC hipster scene. ", "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. I won't bother to describe the plot of this disaster, but some of the dialog is pricelesssuch as 'I think my demon likes me, I'm the first girl he was ever inside.' They walk down the aisle to a chuppah wreathed in fog machine exhaust and pyrotechnics. He throws her out of the program, as the tattoo makes it easy for the demon to return. It just ticks all the boxes and makes sure to play off some of the simple things those fans would know. I'd recommend this movie if you like possession movies. Jordan Galland's sharp satire Ava's Possessions, on the other hand . Overall I'm a bit confused, but I enjoyed the scenes and vibes. Late in the show, writers Shahar Magen and Valrie Zenatti introduce the cause of Natalies man troubles. and that music, with all its funhouse-mirror doo-wop and moody rockabilly-ish twang, was ready for action. This amateurish mess of a movie tries to be a horror/comedy but falls flat. 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. Unless she agrees to join a self-help group, the SPA or Spirit Possession Anonymous, that is. PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. This comes as a blow to Max, who is a musician . Her immediate response is "How long was I out?" 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. The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 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. Click here for Culture Crypt's interview with filmmaker Jordan Galland and star Louisa Krause. Want to relax and get a horror fix but also have a few laughs? 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Demon AA (sorry!) Well, as grounded as things would get in this films universe. Flaws and all, Avas Possessions is still something genre fans tired of the usual possession story willing to try something new will enjoy. 2016 R 1h 29m DVD Rent this movie. It happened . It did not succeed in my opinion. Wth was that about? says the actress. "[Review] 'Ava's Possessions' Takes Post-Demonic Possession In a Fresh Direction - Bloody Disgusting! I watched this movie on Netflix. 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. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Ava then recalls finding a tattoo similar to the one she received during the ritual, making her realize that her sister had deliberately sent the demon into her in order to avoid getting possessed herself. She believed that she should value death over having Jonah take her status and possessions and let her live like a prisoner. The idea of AA for the post-possessed is another brilliant novelty in the film. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. First are detectives Esti (Noa Koler, largely en franais as she deals with Natalie and her family) and her jaded partner Rafi (Tzahi Grad). She is then recaptured and is put in a car with Roger, who is to take her to the asylum. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. 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. Double A Horror Highway Favorite Opening Scenes In Horror. 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. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. But in hindsight, Rosas superstitious, evil eye-evading practices, derived from her childhood in the ancient Tunisian Jewish community in Djerba, point to one of the series major themes: the sway tradition can still hold over a modernity in an Old New Land like Israel. AVA'S POSSESSION doesn't really take off like a movie should. Metacritic Reviews. what's the problem. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. 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. The film begins during the tail end of her exorcism. No word yet on Alvarezs pitch for his own take on the material, but we expect more real soon. 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. It's a question not many movies have asked, so I sat down and took it in. If nothing else, this film is quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. Your guide to every single Israeli TV show and movie you can stream right now, Tunisia Boosts Security for Lag BOmer on Djerba. Nadia Tereszkiewicz as Natalie in HBO Maxs Possessions. Courtesy of HBO Max. Instead of focusing on her possession, this movie asks the question, what is life like AFTER your demon has been exorcised? It's an interesting angle to take and director Jordan Galland makes considerable hay with the concept, even if some elements fall flat. PJ Grisar is the Forwards culture reporter. Ava is just your average twenty something who's just been exorcised. Spirit Possession Anonymous is not your typical twelve-step recovery program. Basically a demon possesses this woman at certain times and manages to save her life, a time or two. And a slut, another (played by Girls Jemima Kirke) adds. The story afterwards, fleshed out more and the comedy was gone. 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. The story for Ava's Possessions is done in a very flexible way; starting off as a pseudo-possession genre that further develops into detective noir, with, obviously a pack of affluent & pretentious white bowery dwelling hipsters (including john lennon's son and a kirke sister) got together to make a neon drenched, hyper stylized detective story about post demonic possession that never takes itself too seriously. The halo cures Ava's paralysis and gives her superpowers, but also burdens her with the mantle of the Warrior Nun. With her biological father falling miserably short in his parental duties, Duke filled that void for her. Ava's Possession doesn't rely on jumpscares, or even really anything to scare you other than the odd bit of strange makeup. The colors used to make day and night feel different are just a superb touch and adds to the story being a genuine fun ride. 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. Ava's Possessions. Ava is last seen approaching the helicopter that was supposed to pick Caleb up, but her conversation with the pilot is not heard. 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. 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 family is of little help, as Ava gets the impression they are hiding something. Scattershot possession horror comedy that works for the most part even if it has more story threads than it can handle in one movie. Demonic possessions are a well-trod trope in horror movies, but most of them end with the exorcism. 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. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 3 days to finish once started. Rating: R (Bloody. 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. See production, box office & company info. Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site. [Exclusive]. 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. Its situation comedy dealing with horror. 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. Perri splits her time between Los Angeles and New York, but wherever the film and television coverage takes her, she goes! I realise I'm supposed to suspend disbelief a bit more than usual due to the genre, but the alternate world, where possession is relatively common, wasn't as fleshed out as I thought it should be. 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. 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. 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. Like open a new tab and stream this movie, watch it, then tell everyone you know. The characters, particularly our protagonist, Ava, have enough depth and charm to make us care about each one as the story unfolds. 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? It does this by a subversion that presents problems of its own. I guess this is actually a serious attempt at a horror movie. The story is not only a different take, but is also . I dont think that weve ever had a competent story (Exorcist 2, anyone?) 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. 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. Vibrant, red blood splotches run down her mouth as she . All the exorcism/possession movies end, after the exorcism - whether it went right or wrong, there's not much we get after that. The last time Jonah saw Sophie, he wanted to give her a second chance. (Re-summoning Hazels demon requires a trip to an occult shop, owned by a delightfully wicked Carol Kane.) I almost stopped watching there and then but decided to keep on going for a bit. 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. Her mother was tormented by the same demon at one point, why wouldn't she just explain to her daughter in the first place?! Gotham Knights Horror Icon Doug Bradley Playing Iconic DC Villain in The CW Series! Ava struggles to make amends with those she hurt while possessed and get her life back together only to have the demon return to possess her once again. Still Alive Watch Demi Lovatos Scream VI Music Video Featuring New Clips from the Movie! After that first flush of interest, though, its draw is largely obligatory. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. And the demon bursting inside after she finds her mother's file?? This is one of the most original movies i have seen recently. Spirit Possession Anonymous. Yes, a visual treat as well. Jessica Chastain stars in a new action-thriller revolving around an assassin, and here's how Ava ends and sets up a sequel. Which is not to say its quite the real world. Overview; Details; While struggling to recover from the trauma of demonic possession, Ava Dopkins attempts to resume a normal life. Critical reception for Ava's Possessions has been mixed and the film holds a rating of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 16 reviews. 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. 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. . 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. They've got to attend Spirit Possessions Anonymous. "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. It's basically jail, or join a group a lot like AA but for possession victims: Spirit Possession Anonymous. 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. I may be biased because I adore film noir, but I was impressed with this movie's plot. Perri's a proud graduate of Columbia University's Film MFA program and member of the Critics Choice Association. Sounds as fresh as it is with humor that isn't trying to be funny, but definitely is. Oops, I said the d-word. I really liked this movie. 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Not only does it put a completely new spin on the concept, but its also a downright brilliant idea that could sustain far more than 89 minutes of screen time. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. The film begins during the tail end of her . 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. 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. I'm not to sure, this is a genre I'm a sucker for and the kind of thing I just eat up, so I decided to finally bit the bullet and give it a watch. Dont want to miss anything on the site? I'm generally skeptical of anything Hollywood calls "multicultural." It's usually a cover phrase for "objectively without value except for raising your social . Still, its a nice alternative to yet another self-serious Exorcist wannabe. The first act of the film is absolutely brimming with hilarious and oddly practical concerns regarding Avas situation. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. A semicomic mystery imagining what happens after the credits roll on a demonic-possession fright flick, Jordan Gallands Avas Possessions realizes the obvious it aint easy to reenter polite society after spending weeks unleashing hell and then makes things worse. About 20 minutes in I had to check that I wasn't watching a series pilot. 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). With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. The movie takes itself serious, and doesn't at the same time. It premiered at the Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival in 2015, and was given a DVD and Video on Demand release in 2016. It adds a kind of absurdity to the film that isnt necessarily played up for laughs, but still evokes a certain amount of humour that adds another dimension to the film. 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. Ooops. Evicting a demon from its host is just the beginning. A support group that helps her readjust herself after having a demon inside her fucking things up. 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. It is neither scary nor humorous. 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. not wacky enough to do justice to a tantalizingly-wacky concept. The golden rule of spirit possession anonymous is never ever use that word. They were really creative in showing possible life changes that occur after a possession. 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. Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. Simon mourns for his old mentor in his own way and accuses Ava of forcing his hands. "[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]. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group. Privacy Policy. Thats expected sometime in 2023. If you don't know, "Tonight, We Stay Indoors" is essentially about what happens after a slasher movie. It does take away from the fun of the film a bit and the resolution isnt all that satisfying either. 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. That is the way to connect to the audience, and this movie does it well. 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. You sorta acted like a mega bitch when you were possessed, one friend tells her. So what is this movie really? 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. 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. Bernard: Are you still smoking marijuana? Her latest film puts her in the titular role of Ava and teams her up with director Tate Taylor after . But in a genre where possession is old-hat, it's rare to see a fresh and unique take on the material. The ending is atrocious. Bernard: I mean, it's a gateway drug, okay? In fact, Im surprised Ive never considered the idea much before. In "Ava's Possessions" it's just the beginning as the priest commences the procedure along with opening credit. Normally, a possession movie ends with the victim baths in sunlight or in some cases wanders into the dark. 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. Sure that he is dead as a result of her, Ava lies to Ben about how she found the watch but ends up spending time with Ben. 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. is a hoot and the girl that kind of misses hanging out with her devilish infiltrator is just a wonderful idea.

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