PopHorror Let's Get Scared
There are two types of exorcism films out there. The first type is where the dark, good-looking priest guides the family and saves the afflicted person’s life. The second type is the one where the family seems terribly misguided and things just go disastrously wrong. Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism, directed by Nick Kozakis (Masked Wolf: Pandemonium), is definitely the latter.
Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism Synopsis
Lara is a woman tormented, torn between science and faith. Pushed by her husband to seek treatment from a congregation of zealots, a ruthless exorcist will try to save her soul by putting an innocent woman through hell.
The film introduces us to Lara, who Georgia Eyers brilliantly play, as she talks to her doctor. It’s apparent that Lara has inner demons, but she has a husband, Ron (Dan Ewing), who seems deeply devoted to her. The doctor is alarmed when Ron decides that Lara’s strange behavior: naked dancing, vivid hallucinations, disassociation, and fits of anger are spiritual, and not a medical sickness. Lara has been institutionalized in the past, and Ron is determined to keep her out of there. He decides to take her to the congregation run by Daniel James King (Tim Popcock), an exorcist who will stop at nothing to expel “the demon.”
This was an extremely disturbing film to watch. It reminded me of the documentary film Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses, which was the true story of a botched exorcism. The acting was incredible overall, but the true stars are Georgia Eyers as Lara and Tim Popcock as the relentless exorcist. It’s a grim reality that vulnerable people continue to fall through the cracks and into the hands of men like Daniel King.
Sometimes there is nothing in this world more dangerous than a man deluded by his faith. This is an absolute must-see film not just for the acting, but for the visuals, and compelling storyline. These types of ‘exorcisms’ will keep happening unless mental illness education becomes more commonplace.
