(15) 93mins THE devil is in the detail when it comes to the well-trodden path of films about extracting an evil force from someone . And while the set-up to this horror is a very decent one indeed, the second half collapses into a head-spinning pile of spewed nonsense. The film starts with a movie within a movie, and builds into the idea that films about exorcisms or poltergeists are cursed .
Before long, the lead actor — who plays a priest in charge of an exorcism — meets a grizzly end on set, and auditions are open for his replacement. In steps Anthony Miller ( Russell Crowe ), a gruff-voiced, rotund actor whose heyday was before he “spent the last two years inside a bottle”. After much rehab, he is now ready to get back to the big screen and decides to audition for the cursed role.
His rebellious daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins) has moved back in with him, and the pair — who have a damaged relationship due to Anthony’s addictions — go to the film set together. So far, so interesting. There’s a few jumpy moments, a decent build-up of the spooky set and a dark tinge to the film that makes you think there might be a seriously good horror movie arriving.
There’s even some decent bit-parts from Avatar’s leading man Sam Worthington and the excellent Adam Goldberg as a frustrated director. But then, as though someone grabbed the script and ripped a chunk out of it in a fit of fury, it takes a giant leap into the weird and truly bizarre, with no feasible backstory..
