Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody, exploitive exorcism tale has violence, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Day of the Lord
What's the Story?
In THE DAY OF THE LORD, Menendez (Juli Fabregas), an alcoholic, defrocked Spanish priest, went to jail for murder the last time he performed an exorcism. Sure, he ousted the devil who possessed the young boy, but in killing the demon, the priest also killed the boy he was out to save. Here on earth, they put you in jail for that. Now that he's out, his friend Sebas (Hector Illanes) comes by for a drink and asks for help with Raquel (Ximena Romo), his contrary teenaged daughter who, he's certain, has been possessed. Menendez warns him that his exorcism methods are harsh and dangerous. Sebas says he'd rather see his daughter dead and in heaven than alive with Satan's "horned devil inside her body." Things get worse from here.
Is It Any Good?
The Day of the Lord is sadistic, ridiculous, and worrisome. Most of this just feels like torture porn. In its graphic depiction of a man viciously punching a contrary young girl, it certainly establishes a precedent of permission for that kind of behavior even as it's cloaked in the need to rid the world of demons. And punching is the least of it. He hits her with a wrench. Someone whacks her with a fire extinguisher. Menendez pulls out her fingernails. But, of course, it's all for her own good and she thanks them in the end, which not only confirms the church's "power" but also suggests that violent men are the answer to a distressed maiden's problems.
The many, many ways in which this feels exploitive and insincere are too numerous to list, but if the possessed girl has the superhuman strength endowed by the demon to toss grown men around a room, how can a few ropes keep her tied to a chair? How does torturing someone who's possessed by the devil scare the devil? Wouldn't the devil relish the violence its presence is inciting? Can the devil feel pain? Wouldn't he enjoy it if he did? If the devil is so tricky, why can't the devil just pretend to leave? How would this mortal priest know if he'd succeeded or not? The emphasis on the power of God over evil here sidesteps the issue of how a super-powerful evil spirit could under any circumstances be conquered, frightened, or destroyed by a weak human, even one back by God. The scariest part of this movie is that it's only "Part 1.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this movie uses violence. Do you think the plot makes it seem as if violence is a good method for solving problems? Why or why not?
How does this story depict the Catholic religion? Does it feel like a fair picture of a belief system? Why or why not?
Does this film provide satisfaction when "good" conquers "evil"? Or does it mock the notion of using terror and violence to achieve a supposedly good end?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 30, 2020
- Cast : Juli Fabregas , Ximena Romo , Hector Illanes
- Director : Snatiago Alvarado Ilarri
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 19, 2022
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