Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots of jump scares in tired demon-possession movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Prey for the Devil
What's the Story?
In PREY FOR THE DEVIL, Ann (Jacqueline Byers) suffers from childhood trauma. She believes that her mother was possessed and that the "voice" inside her made her harm her young daughter. Now a nun in a teaching hospital, Ann is determined to learn about exorcisms, even though the church forbids nuns to do so. Ann makes a connection with a young girl named Natalie (Posy Taylor). When Natalie shows signs of possession, Ann is able to help by reaching out to the girl inside, rather than confronting the demon. A young priest, Father Dante (Christian Navarro), asks for Ann's help with his sister, who also seems to be possessed. But when things go south, Ann must face the demon inside Natalie one more time and make a hard decision.
Is It Any Good?
Like many exorcist movies, this one is beautiful to look at (old churches, libraries, stained glass windows), but it has the energy of a sloth, as if it drifted off while gazing at things. Prey for the Devil has a good concept in that it argues that it's time to let women into the exorcism club. It also flips the script by suggesting that people can reach out to the possessed -- who are so hurt and guilty that they don't believe they deserve God's love -- rather than attacking the demon. But it doesn't use these ideas for more than a handful of typical, tired exorcism scenes. The only interesting thing that happens is that the demon makes a ceiling fan spin so fast that the blades snap off and fly across the room.
Everything feels sleepy in this movie, and even Ann delivers her lines in soft, hypnotizing tones. (This is great for the scenes in which she cares for patients, but not so great while fighting demons.) There's no urgency. The first exorcism we see is simply a class project, with two volunteers trying out the process as if they were taking a practical oral exam. It doesn't help that the demons aren't even scary, consisting of the usual low-budget sludgy-looking CGI effects and a handful of jump scares. At least Virginia Madsen is here, lending a little class to the movie, as the doctor in charge at the hospital. And Colin Salmon is great as Father Quinn, with his glorious voice. If only Prey for the Devil had roused itself enough to follow up on its ideas, it might have been worthy of its cast.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Prey for the Devil's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Does Ann's theory about the possessed allowing demons inside because of trauma and guilt make sense? How could this theory be applied to life?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? How can horror be a tool to grapple with issues going on in the real world?
Did you notice any positive diverse representations in the film? Why is that important?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 28, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : December 13, 2022
- Cast : Jacqueline Byers , Christian Navarro , Virginia Madsen , Colin Salmon
- Director : Daniel Stamm
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent and disturbing content, terror, thematic elements and brief language
- Last updated : January 12, 2023
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