PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I really enjoy when films, especially horror films, explore the concept of faith and how loss can lead someone to lose their faith. This is is a concept that is explored heavily in F.C. Rabbath’s The Final Pact.
Synopsis
Three young priests discover a secret final exam before graduating. They celebrate but encounter a woman seeking an exorcism. Reluctantly, they investigate and find a doorway to hell. Their final exam has just begun.
The Final Pact was written and directed by F.C. Rabbath (The Waiting). The film stars Austin Freeman (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Julia Vasi (Walden), Sam Sneary, Cameron Diskin (The New Ark), Charlie Prince, Emilie Noelani (Woman in the Hands of the Devil), Larry Kaster (The Waiting), Henry Tisdale (Spooky Bridge), Mattie Ward (Cruel Summer) and Mark A. Marple (The Waiting).
F.C. Rabbath is a master of doing the most with little money. I was highly impressed with his films A Brilliant Monster and The Waiting, and that trend continues with The Final Pact. I found the character of Paul, a faithless priest in training, to be quite relatable. Austin Freeman give a solid performance and gives Paul likability. He’s a man who has suffered great loss and is training to become a priest because he wants his late father to be proud of him.
Sam Sneary’s Mark is also extremely likable. He just seems like a genuinely good person and a great friend to Paul. Charlie Prince’s John is the least likable of the core trio. He comes off as a douchey frat bro who decided to become a priest. That being said, he plays the character well and has great interactions with Sneary’s Mark. My favorite character by far was Julia Vasi’s Lucy. I don’t want to ruin anything but her character is a lot of fun. She’s seductive and manipulative and Julia Vasi is delightful in the role.
I really liked the idea of the various rooms of the house representing the different circles of hell and the seven deadly sins. It gives the film variety and a sense of playfulness. The lighting in the film adds a lot of style to the scenes with blues, reds, purples and greens being used primarily. I loved the way the story played out and while it primarily focuses on Paul, John and Mark are always there to have his back, even when they themselves are being tempted by dark force. The final act of the movie gets a little more serious but I enjoyed how things wrapped up.
Final Thoughts
The Final Pact is an effective indie take on religious horror. It makes you care about the characters and it gives their actions and consequences weight. The acting was good all around and I really enjoyed the characters. If you are interested in seeing a different take on religious horror I highly recommend The Final Pact.
