'Nefarious' Uses Horror To Tell A Faithbased Story. But Glenn Beck's Cameo Is Really Scary
"Thriller" is like a backyard obsession movie where a convicted murderer hours away from the electric chair tries to convince his court-appointed psychiatrist that a demon is possessing his prisoner.
Sean Patrick Flannery has a good time with Edward and Nefarious, a demon accused of multiple murders. Dr. James Martin (Jordan Belfi) is a doctor who must decide if he is sane enough to be killed.
It's a pretty standard horror movie: Edward knows a lot about James' life, even though he has no reason to. A light bulb mysteriously explodes. "It's probably just a coincidence," Edward said with a pat on the shoulder.
Flanery sells the aspect of possession by playing the half-demon as extremely smart and cunning. But is he lying?
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Is it a popular Christian movie?
Without giving too much away, he then says that abortion is murder, which is fine from the demons' point of view, but not from the filmmakers' point of view. And they're not subtle about it.
Until now, you would never have thought that Infamous was a religious film. Although this is not surprising given the other films directed by writers and directors Chuck Conzelman and Cary Solomon; Her resume includes movies like God's Not Dead and Unplanned.
And it's good until her message gets heavy and the film starts to suffer, at least cinematically. (How this works religiously is up to you and your faith.)
But putting Glenn Beck in your movie? Neither good nor good.
Glenn Beck is not in the movie.
Beck is an avowed conspiracy theorist who sold his welcome to Fox News in 2016 saying he regretted opposing Donald Trump, then changed his tune again.
On the night of Trump's impeachment, Tucker Carlson, who could be the epitome of the disinformation game, predicted that in two years America would be at war (with Iowa), the dollar would collapse and we would live in a "virtual police state."
That's not who you want in your movie, no matter what you believe.
Beck appears at the end, playing himself, in the epilogue. He shows sincerity and compassion.
Pooh
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There is nothing subtle in "Nefarioz".
Before that, the film is mostly a conflict between Edward and James. Jacob is an atheist - ugh - who doesn't believe in demons, possession or God. Edward assured him he wouldn't wait.
"If you're such a bastard, let me dress you," Edward teased.
Dude, have you ever seen a scary movie?
A priest seems to be talking to Edward, albeit harshly, shouting and welcoming until the priest assures him that the Catholic Church has long since moved on to the belief that most of what people do for strongmen is real. Types of mental illness.
Of course, this weakens the priest's faith - it reminded me of the confrontation between the priest and the vampire Ballow in Salem Night - and Edward is reassured by knowing that he has nothing to fear from him.
Not much.
Again, subtlety is not the film's forte. It's not even a recording.
Using horror to tell a religious story is fun, if not successful
Flannery as Edward/Nefarious tortures the Doctor is the funniest part of the movie. Belfie looks soft, though anyone would play with Flannery.
Using the horror genre to tell a religious story is an interesting idea, even if it doesn't work in the end. And then Beck shows up, and this is the worst part.
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"Unknown" 2 stars
Excellent ★★★★★ Good ★★★★
Right ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★
Directed by Chuck Kanzelman, Kerry Solomon .
Actors: Sean Patrick Flanery, Jordan Belfie, James Healy Jr.
Rating : R for disturbing violent content.
How to watch: In cinemas from April 14.
Contact Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Sign up for the movie weekly newsletter.
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