BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM

Truth is stranger than fiction...but will it make good movie?  The answer is a resounding absolutely from BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM.  So what we have here is, basically, the same exorcism story you've already seen about a dozen times before. Catholic priest called in, with "a troubled past", and "demons of his own", to start pounding demon ass.  In perhaps one of the most overt exorcism titles of the last ten years, we actually kick things off with a possession.  This is not something that you see very often, but this does give it a little extra edge.  Most exorcism stories require some kind of buildup, but here, you'll actually see a possessed person within the first five minutes.

And yes, of course it's a Catholic priest called in to hand this particular demon its ass.  Who else do you call in an exorcism based movie?  Only one I can think of that didn't start screaming for the diocese shock troops is THE VISITATION which gave Randy Travis the land-speed record for exorcisms.  It's just a basic fact of the horror movie landscape--if you got demons, you call Catholics, you put up with a whole lot of chanting in Latin, and you get a big pot of maybe as to whether or not they can even get rid of the thing to begin with. 

The track record for exorcisms is, at best, spotty.  From THE EXORCIST to THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, the priest v. demon record is a crap shoot to say the least.  Which isn't to say this is going to be a foregone conclusion. Proving that someone in the movie business has been paying attention to my coverage, once again, they've brought in the man hisself, Jeffrey Combs, to handle some of the acting duties.   So basically, you've got one plus in Jeffrey Combs, who will indeed yield his standard excellent performance as part of the local constabulary.  He is in fact so good in this that I couldn't even tell for most of five minutes that it was him.  But, there's also one minus in a very familiar plotline.  Thus it'll be left to pure execution to determine just how BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM turns out.

Give due credit to BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM...they went for authenticity like a son of a bitch here and they got it.  Not five seconds into the movie and they'll run a text scroll describing how the exorcism scenes were "conducted under the supervision of Bishop Jason Spadafore", and then proceed to give a whole bunch of reasons why this should mean anything at all.

And I have to admit to being impressed by the wholly innovative plot stroke of a possession being part of some kind of master plan, as we'll discover early on.  This is not something that's done very often--usually a demonic possession is treated like some kind of pocket natural disaster, on par with a hurricane in someone's body.  But here, it's just a part of a much, much larger scope of events.  Which is in itself extremely rare.

Even better, I don't know how many of you follow Bravo, but what they call the scariest part of THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE was the sheer capability of the actress portraying Emily.  I'll make it clear right now that the chick handling Isabelle's part could put her in the DARK. Not kidding. Not even close.  Emily Rose was downright creepy, sure...but I was pretty well convinced with Isabelle.

Although it's not without fault around here--most of our Bible quoters throughout seem to have nothing resembling a clue what they're talking about.  At least two separate citations don't even vaguely mesh with reality.  Which is, on the whole, a relatively small trouble.  It doesn't get in the way of the story at all, which is very well executed, despite its familiarity.  In fact, even though the base itself is familiar, what they will do with it will prove to be anything but.

The ending is an absolutely amazing plot twist, the likes of which has not yet been seen in any exorcism movie I know of.  The special features include Spanish subtitles, audio options, a commentary track, a making of featurette, and trailers for BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM, AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, ARE YOU SCARED?, DARK FIELDS, BLACK DAHLIA, and THE FEEDING.

All in all, I'm very impressed.  BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM manages to take a base that should have been so familiar and so ultimately trite as to be pointless, and yet makes something new and original from it.  In the end, a silk purse has been made from a sow's ear.

RATING: **** (out of four)

Comments

[phantom]

You know, I keep watching exorcism movies, but I find little that I like about them. I generally don't find them scary and I usually leave disappointed.

[Ralphyboy]

The only good possession movie ever made will always be "The Exorcist". The others fail in comparison.

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[Patty]

Warm greetings in the True Christmas Spirit!

I hope all is well, you seem very knowledgeable. I read through your blogs--very sharp indeed! Do you have a Doctorate in Divinity or Philosophy?

Anyhow, I was wondering if you could give some priceless advice. I am thinking of buying some good old Catholic theology books for some family members and loved ones, and well, I recently received an advertisement for this very interesting book called "Communicatio in Sacris: The Roman Catholic Church against Intercommunion of non-Catholics" by Mr. William J. DeTucci.

I was wondering if you have seen any book review on this book? I could not find anything on the author. It seems the book talks about the Role of Vatican II in the Modern World and how some Traditionalists have resisted many of the Modernistic teachings of Ecumenism, Religious Liberty, and the New Mass, as opposed to the old Latin Tridentine Mass. However, I also recently read Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio ( www.vatican.va), which seems to be give the Liberty of "Open Communion" to so-called Traditional Catholic Groups who dissent from Vatican II, i.e. Marcel Lefebvre's SSPX, Mark Pivarunas' CMRI, Clarence Kelly's SSPV, Br. Michael Dimond's Most Holy Family Monastery, the various Saint Benedict Centers, Jason Spadafore's Raphael Society, Patrick Taylor's Society of the Virgin Mary, and so many other Independent Bishops at Large)--all who promote Intercommunion Latin Mass Ritual, of course! I think the Spirit of Vatican II is really being recognized now by many of the Traditionalists who once followed Bishop Lefebvre in resisting Vatican II Conciliar Reforms, but since the Motu Proprio Latin Mass Ecumenism has been widely promoted and it has been "well received" by many of these same various Traditionalists Sects and also by many Liberal Bi-Ritual Bishops who offer both the Latin Mass and Ecumenical Modern Liturgies.

However, breaking the rule of judging a book by its cover, and only peaking its table of contents, it seems to me this book is an itchy reaction to this Neo-Ecumenism that both Greek and Latin Churches have been involved with. Not sure if you have read the book, or know of some theologian who has written a review? Here is the link to the contents that I browsed:

http://www.lulu.com/content/1431544

and also here:

http://www.vladcatholic.com

I would most greatly appreciate any book review that you or a theologian has done. This book seems to have positive merit in as much it claims to be "a Compendium of Roman Catholic Doctrine on the subject of Intercommunion with non-Catholics. This book produces the overwhelming theological consensus for the Dogmatic Teaching condemning Intercommunion with non-Catholics, putting together a treasury of Sacred Scriptures, Church Fathers, Doctors, Saints, Theologians, and Popes who have written on the matter."

However, I just wanted to verify that before I make my last minute shopping for this Christmas & New Year Season.

May God bless you all!

Kind regards,

Patty

[random person]

This movie sucks. There's no demonic possession at all, the girl keeps yelling at an off-camera room while her father discusses who has slept with his wife besides him. Pityful

[Akahana]

This movie is a joke...not scary at all, and real snoozer...dont waste your time or money on this one...

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here's no demonic possession at all, the girl keeps yelling at an off-camera room while her father discusses who has slept with his wife besides him.

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