“You should clear out of here. Because whatever that thing was, it’s free now to do as it pleases.”

A woman’s hope for a miracle cure turns into a nightmare when she confronts the vengeful spirit of a cursed witch, determined to claim her as a vessel for her evil power.

With Diabolic, Daniel J. Phillips offers a classic and effective horror film, while bringing a few elements that make the film stand out from the crowd.

Classic Horror Cinema

Diabolic won’t revolutionize anything. Although the film is Australian, it follows the Hollywood genre format. That doesn’t make it a bad film; what matters is what is done with it.

The story, while slightly unrealistic, works well within its universe. The characters are fairly well-composed, even if they remain somewhat surface-level, and the plot takes the viewer on a fine journey. Obviously, you have to enjoy “possession” type films, otherwise, the time might drag. But since the director brings a few original elements, the viewer can remain surprised at certain moments.

To create fear, the movie mixes makeup to create frightening characters and jump scares. I’m not a fan of the kind of horror caused by jump scares, but here, as they are used sparingly, they remain effective and don’t become tiresome.

A Few Little Gems

There are some truly beautiful things in Diabolic. First of all, the makeup and costumes of the creatures/possessed are as frightening as one could wish for—especially when the character is lit by the light of a match.

The spirit at the center of the narrative is particularly successful. Without causing immediate disgust, she is nonetheless terrifying. A beautiful blend of deformation due to possession and decomposition due to… death.

There are, of course, some inconsistencies, but they are redeemed by the beautiful sequences that follow. There is also something pleasant about watching a film that unfolds like a closed-door drama, but in the middle of nowhere outdoors. Only one building appears in the movie after the characters leave the comfort of their apartment.

A little more…

Thus, without redefining the genre, Diabolic succeeds where the majority of possession films fail. It slightly changes the origin of the myths and the way the problem is resolved. Moreover, we don’t see many films that rely on Mormon beliefs to develop a horror story. Often (in non-Asian cinema), we stop at the Catholic religion in the broad sense.

Here, we briefly expand on the origins of the Mormon version and their values, without falling into religious analysis or judgment. Their ideas are simply used to create a horror plot in the middle of the woods.

Daniel J. Phillips therefore offers good entertainment, with a few touches of originality, but nothing likely to repel the general public. A film that deserves to be seen.

Trailer