ASMODEXIA. 2014. DIRECTED BY MARC CARRETÉ. SCREENPLAY BY MARC CARRETÉ AND MIKE HOSTENCH. STARRING LUIS MARCO, CLAUDIA PONS AND IRENE MONTALA. REVIEW BY SANDRA HARRIS. ©
This is an interesting one. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've really been digging my exorcism movies lately, dating from Halloween 2015 when I finally plucked up the courage to watch the big one, THE EXORCIST, on DVD.
I kind of approached watching THE EXORCIST like a bull charging at a gate. I suddenly decided while I was out shopping on Halloween afternoon that this was it, I was going to do it, after spending years and years shrieking my little lungs out even at the sight of Regan's 'possessed' face in a Facebook post.
I ran home and watched the film in broad daylight with the curtains wide open and the Saturday afternoon sun streaming gloriously through the window. It made me feel brave, haha. Anyway, I did it and since then, I've watched every exorcism film I could get my hands on. Me's a big girl now...!
ASMODEXIA (what a great catchy title!) was written by Marc Carreté towards the end of 2012. It's his first feature-length film, although he'd previously written, produced and directed two short films which went down a storm at the international film festivals, as well as numerous commercials. He cites H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, Gustave Flaubert, Stephen King and Guy De Maupassant among his favourite writers. Guy's got good taste...!
ASMODEXIA tells the story of a grandfather-and-granddaughter pairing, Eloy and Alba, who have a somewhat unusual job. They're travelling exorcists, haha. That's right, they travel the length and breadth of Spain (this is a Spanish language film, by the way) casting out demons right, left and centre at the request of, basically, anyone who seeks their help. Check out the little girl's exorcism and the things her revolted parents say about her. Creepy as hell...
They're a quite likeable couple, these two. Gramps obviously loves his granddaughter Alba to bits and this love is reciprocated. Alba is a stunningly beautiful fifteen-year-old and it's clear from early on that she has the power. Man, does she have the freakin' power...! She takes the lead in the exorcisms they perform and she's a sight to behold as she's in full flow.
It's clear too, however, that Alba is a very special young lady with a very special role to assume in life one day soon. She and Gramps are counting down the days to a 'Resurrection' about which we the viewers know nothing. What's supposed to happen at this mysterious 'Resurrection,' which word, by the way, the Spanish pronounce magnificently with that sort of sexy 'th' sound? I spent the whole of the next day after watching the film randomly saying 'Rethurrecthione' in my best Spanish accent. Yes, people did give me funny looks, haha, but it was totally worth it.
While Alba and her Grampy are tramping the dusty roads of Spain putting the fear of Jaysis into pesky demons everywhere, there's stuff going on elsewhere too. A young-ish woman called Ona is incarcerated in a mental asylum with, incidentally, the most stunning architecture you'll ever see.
There are some desperately disturbing things taking place in this asylum, which by the way is seriously flippin' understaffed. They really need to get on to the agency and get in a few temps. Maybe then they could cope with the horrible incidents of seemingly demonic possession taking place in their hospital. Check out the freaky scenes in the hospital bathroom.
Anyway, what's the connection between this Ona person and Alba and Eloy? And what will happen when they all come face-to-face? Oh, and did I mention that the date that the Mayans foretold would be the end of the world as we know it is looming ever closer? Haha, I know damn well I didn't mention that before, but it's important, trust me.
The scenes in the incredible-looking abandoned water park are really spooky. That is one genuinely scary exorcism. Also, the park looks like something from one of those 'Abandoned Places' posts on Facebook which I swear to God are rapidly becoming my porn, heh-heh-heh. I just love looking at deserted old places that are slowly being taken over by nature, don't you? There's just something so primal about it all.
ASMODEXIA is coming out on DVD on the 28th March 2016, by the way, courtesy of SHARP
TEETH FILMS, a movie company that likes to bring their public unusual films with a bit of 'bite' to 'em. I love it! I also love that they're planning an Easter release for a film that's been described by UK HORROR SCENE as 'wonderfully blasphemous.' Definitely interesting timing.
And I definitely recommend this film, which has a mind-blowing twist at the end.
And I definitely recommend this film, which has a mind-blowing twist at the end.
The ending reminded me a bit of a little-known Christopher Lee film called END OF THE WORLD from 1977. I hope I'm not giving anything away when I say that. Eeep...!
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY OF SANDRA HARRIS.
Sandra Harris is a Dublin-based novelist, film blogger and movie reviewer. She has studied Creative Writing and Film-Making. She has published a number of e-books on the following topics: horror film reviews, multi-genre film reviews, womens' fiction, erotic fiction, erotic horror fiction and erotic poetry. Several new books are currently in the pipeline. You can browse or buy any of Sandra's books by following the link below straight to her Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B015GDE5RO
You can contact Sandra at:
http://sandrafirstruleoffilmclubharris.wordpress.com
I love it when you pull out the under the radar gems!
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