Demonic [2021] Review

3 stars. When modern technology meets ancient legend.

Demonic is a 2021 horror film, filmed during the  Covid-19 pandemic. It is the first feature film from acclaimed writer and director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) since 2015’s Chappie and is showing at FrightFest prior to it’s release in UK cinemas courtesy of Signature Entertainment.

“I debated whether I should come here at all. I didn’t want to see you. Actually, I didn’t want to see you ever again. I decided that long ago.”

Carly (Carly Pope – Elysium, The Collector) is a troubled young woman, traumatised by the events of her childhood, when her mother Angela (Nathalie Boltt – Riverdale, The Astronauts) went on a completely unexpected and unexplained killing spree, leaving her on her own. She still suffers from nightmares about her trying to kill her.

She is supported by best friend Sam (Kandyse McClure – Battlestar Galactica, Private Eyes) who has been with her through everything. They have lost touch with their other friend Martin (Chris William Martin – The Vampire Diaries, Cedar Cove) after his wild theories about her mother became too much for them.

Out of the blue one day she receives a text from Martin asking to meet. She decides to go ahead and is shocked at what he has to say. He has been asked to go to a Medical Tech Company called Therapol to take part in a focus group. When he arrives, he is shocked to find Angela there, in a coma, paralyzed and hooked up to machines. He leaves immediately to warn Carly that they want to contact her.

Sure enough they request that she visits. When she does, she meets physician Michael (Michael J. Rogers – Siren) and technician Daniel (Terry Chen – The Expanse, Jessica Jones) who insert her into a simulation inside her mother’s head to try and communicate with her. But not everything is as it seems, something is hiding within her mother’s mind and Carly finds herself stuck in a nightmare from which she must try to escape before it’s too late.

Demonic is an entertaining film to watch, with some interesting ideas. The concept of creating a simulation to communicate with coma patients is a good one and the way it’s filmed is effective, reminiscent of a computer game.

The demon is also quite scary, although whether it is enough to class as horror I’m not sure.

It’s not without issues, it’s very slow and although the concepts are good, they’re poorly strung together, making it feel  quite disjointed. There could also be more attention to detail, there are some glaring plot holes. The acting is pretty good however and all in all this latest offering from Neill Blomkamp is worth a look.

“OK, listen. We’re going to leave Sam right here and we’re gonna go in. We’re gonna find Angela, and if we don’t find her after ten minutes, we’re leaving, okay?”

Signature Entertainment’s Demonic opens FrightFest 26th August and is at UK Cinemas, Premium Digital 27th August and on Digital Platforms 22nd October and Blu-ray & DVD 25th October