HOLLYWOOD—What is it about movies that create so much anticipation for audiences, but fail to deliver?  For those looking to rush out to see “The Devil Inside” thanks to its $34 million haul this weekend, think twice before wasting your money as you may be gravely disappointed.  This supernatural chiller borders along the lines of so many other movies audiences have already seen: “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” and “The Last Exorcism.”  Those flicks chronicled a woman possessed by the unexplainable.  Spectators have had a fascination with exorcisms ever since “The Exorcist” shocked audiences back in 1973.

"The Devil Inside."

“The Devil Inside” has a premise that is not that far-fetched from its predecessors as the story follows Isabella (Fernanda Andrade), a woman determined to find out what caused her mother Maria (Suzan Crowley) to murder three people.  Throughout the course of the movie, strange happenings occur that signal to the audience that Maria is indeed possessed with a demon; it would explain her bizarre behavior and ability to uncover secrets that no one else knows about. 

The movie relies on that tactic of documentary style filmmaking to suture the audience; if anything it makes you feel as what you’re viewing is actually happening.  The problem with movies that rely on this technique of filmmaking is that it has to deliver the goods; otherwise the audience’s patience begins to run low.  It reminds me of “Paranormal Activity 3.”  There are these long moments of boredom where nothing happens, and then out of nowhere something exciting happens. 

The problem is as soon as the action occurs it quickly dissipates.  It attempts to create suspense, but ultimately leads to dull moments that affect the overall pace of the movie.  “The Devil Inside” isn’t able to maintain a spectator’s attention for a period of time because it’s just too slow.  I recall “Paranormal Activity 3” vividly as I feel asleep on multiple occasions while in the theater and just as the movie starts to build momentum it ends. 

“The Devil Inside” follows those lines closely; as things build it abruptly ends.  Whenever watching a movie it’s never a good sign when other viewers leave the theater; that happened on several occasions while watching this supernatural thriller.  The biggest complaint from patrons was that “It was just too boring, nothing was happening.”  If you’re looking for an original concept, this isn’t the movie.  If you’re looking for something scary, this isn’t the movie.  If you’re looking for something unnerving, this isn’t the movie.  “The Devil Inside” is not a movie audiences will discuss how great it was, it’ll be that movie audiences will wish they never saw.  Do yourself a favor and don’t get caught up in the hype surrounding this ineffective horror flick.

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