Director – Marc-Andre Samson (Interstate)
Starring – Walter Pena (Mind’s Eye), Scott Anthony Leet (Hangover III), and Alexis Raben (The Invasion)
Release Date – 2014
Rating – 4/5
Tagline – “You fear what is already inside you”
Midnight Release and Brain Damage Films, though they are sister companies, have been sending me review copies of their films for sometime now. Four out of 10 are usually amazing and leave me speechless while the rest leave me scratching my head trying to figure out why they would release such dribble. Recently, I was sent over two films to check out. Those films were Conduitand Where the Devil Dwells.
Both look great but I have learned over the years not to let the artwork trick me into thinking that the film would be worth a damn. Where the Devil Dwells has some of the best artwork for an indie film I have ever seen. Out of the two, I had to see it first and I am glad I did. Thanks for sending this one my way!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows Lenard (Pena) who is a schizophrenic who is now sentenced to home confinement. His father is a known serial killer who inspired a series of movies and several cults since his showdown with the police. The police are rough with him and he is forced to stay in his late uncle’s home who was rumored to be a closeted homosexual.
Lenard makes the best of his situation and starts cleaning the home and then runs an add in the local paper for an assistant that could bring him groceries and supplies since he is not allowed to leave the premises. A young lady answers the add and starts running errands for him. Things are not all that bad but something strange is happening. He finds blood nearby and soon finds a dead animal. He starts to panic and things get weird. His father, presumed dead, shows up and starts hassling along with a cult who worships his father but is all this real or just figments of his imagination?**Spoiler Alert**
I really dig the whole Satanic horror films from yesteryear with The Devil Rides Out being my favorite. There is just something fun and limitless when dealing with Satan and the occult. Where the Devil Dwells is a unique take on the Satanic cult sub-genre. The film itself is set in 1989 and is one hell of an indie horror flick.
The acting in this one is fantastic. Walter Pena and Scott Anthony Leet were fantastic together and really made the film that more enjoyable and memorable. Pena delivers a great performance as the timid Lenard who really works the audience over with emotions. He goes through it all and shows why he was really cast as the lead. Scott Anthony Leet was fantastic as the sheriff and shows some real authority. I could easily see him becoming a household name among the indie horror circuit. My favorite performance came from David O’Hara who has been in several horror productions. He takes control of every scene he is in and steals the show. In this one he plays Lenard’s father, the serial killer. He is unhinged and really drives the film on home. Easily one of my favorite performances in a horror flick.
The story for this one is a clever take on the Satanic cult sub-genre. The film sets itself in 1989 which was the height of the Satanic scare of the late 80s when suburban housewives and overpaid televangelists tried to convince the American people that their kids were going to be abducted by Satanic metalheads and sacrificed to the devil. They then toss in the schizophrenic angle that opens up so many possibilities which leaves the viewer guessing if this really happened or part of Lenard’s mind. The serial killer angle was only the icing on the cake. It wrapped the whole thing together and put a pretty little bow on it.
Finally, those of you looking for a lot of blood and gore will be very upset. The film does feature several on screen kills full of amazing practical effects but not as many as I would have liked. The film has a few blood gags that looks impressive but fails to follow it up with the gore one would expect from a film like this. Overall, Where the Devil Dwells is a must watch. This is one of the few modern horror films that is story driven and not driven by blood. If you like a good horror film with a great cast and a solid story then you will want to check this one out!
