Louisa Krause stars in the titular lead role Ava, a woman who's in the process of recovery after being afflicted by demonic possession. Im not a fan of this digital filming stuff, it looks horrible. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. He can be reached at [emailprotected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter. Rent Ava's Possessions (2016) on DVD and Blu-ray - Netflix Ava's Possessions is a 2015 American supernatural comedy horror film written and directed by Jordan Galland. Ava awakens to find a priest at her bedside; unbeknownst to her, she's been possessed by Naphula, a demon from hell, for the past month, but the priest has successfully exorcised the demon and she's herself again. The struggle with a part of your life that is embarrassing to talk about or explain, all these things come out through the story and make Ava as a character feel just like someone you might know, or even mirror some things you've gone through before. Part of Avas recovery plan is to retrace her steps and atone for her possession-induced sins, which has her tracking down prostitutes and searching for the source of an enormous bloodstain in her apartment. 2015 What I loved about this film is that the comedy feels like it belongs. A little heavy on plot and the horror lacks a bit of a bite, but the demons are quite cute and it's creative and colorful enough to keep the attention. But is it enough to give viewers something different? 2 May 2016. Report this film. Ava'S Possessions (2015) Culture Crypt And a slut, another (played by Girls Jemima Kirke) adds. BetweenAvas Possessions andAlter Egos, its pretty clear that Galland isa skilledworld builder. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. Its not the expected smooth landing after the pleasant 89 minute flight. Spirit Possessions Anonymous, where the d-word is a big no-no. As someone whos seen quite a few possession movies recently, The idea of AA for the post-possessed is another brilliant novelty in the film. Thanks again in part to Gallands script, the film succeeds in getting you to feel for Ava. She may even end up in jail for her crimes. Still, its a nice alternative to yet another self-serious Exorcist wannabe. It took the bold choice of not really showing much of the exorcism at all, you catch a glimpse right at the very beginning, starting things off where most films of this genre normally ends, but from. Facing multiple criminal offenses, Ava opts to go into "Spirit Possession Anonymous" where she meets Hazel who liked being possessed and wants to embrace her demon. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. But grisly visions continue to plague her . The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Also, the ending is a bit abrupt with its rapid-fire resolution, and is a marked difference from the way the film was building up to this point. PJ Grisar is the Forwards culture reporter. "Ava's Possessions" follows the titular character, a young woman who wakes up one day tied to her bed after an exorcism. Ava Dobkins (Louisa Krause) has had a difficult month.For the last 28 days was possessed by the demon Naphula, who did some very bad things while it was in control. The story for Ava's Possessions is done in a very flexible way; starting off as a pseudo-possession genre that further develops into detective noir, with, obviously a pack of affluent & pretentious white bowery dwelling hipsters (including john lennon's son and a kirke sister) got together to make a neon drenched, hyper stylized detective story about post demonic possession that never takes itself too seriously. The SPA program requires members to talk to family, friends and strangers that they might have encountered while possessed so that they can figure out exactly what happened. During their sessions together, Ava expresses attraction towards Caleb. Lonely and confused as to what exactly caused her to become possessed, Ava agrees to help Hazel's demon return via a ritual, which results in Hazel getting committed. With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group to figure out what happened. I wont give too much away, but just know that it is rooted in tradition, strange and alarmingly ableist, Orientalist and so far as I can tell given the search terms that seemed apt invented for the show or at least obscure and troubling. says the actress. FAQ that explores the consequences of the events of a demonic possession in a grounded way. Her friends are pissed because while possessed, she acted like a mega b*tch and slut. She also kicked the crap out of a guy at an ATM and a security camera caught the whole thing. But Avas recovery efforts get bogged down by Hazel (Annabelle Dexter-Jones), a fellow Spirit Possessions Anonymous attendee whos developed an obsession with her former possessor and enlists Avas help to invite him back. Ava's life was hijacked by a demon, now it's time to get it back. The story afterwards, fleshed out more and the comedy was gone. Ava's Possessions (2015) - IMDb Ava is recovering from demonic possession. At one meeting Ava meets Hazel (Annabelle Dexter-Jones), a fellow ex-possessed person that wants her demon to return since she enjoyed its presence and felt that it was "special" for both of them. They were really creative in showing possible life changes that occur after a possession. Fede Alvarezs Alien Movie Fills Out Cast With Four More Fresh Faces, Eli Roths Thanksgiving Cast Adds Milo Manheim, Scream Why Wes Cravens Classic Is Still the Perfect Scary Movie for Horror Newcomers, Nosferatu Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins the Cast of Robert Eggers Remake, Hellboy: The Crooked Man Adeline Rudolph and Jefferson White Join the Reboot, Poltergeist Amazon Reportedly Looking to Revive the Franchise, Agent Elvis Trailer Elvis Gets Bloody in Netflixs Adult Animated Series on March 17th, From Season 2 Teaser Trailer Critically Acclaimed Series Returns to MGM+ in April. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Intriguing Culture Clashes Drive Mysterious Possessions It really is still a bit of a guessing game that you play until the end, which offers not only a nice reveal but wraps the story together nicely as well. All caveats aside, Tereszkiewiczs magnetic performance as Natalie, the stunning shots of the Negevs sun-blanched dunes and the regular hiss of something sinister afoot along with a sleekly menacing score by French music collective HiTnRuN propel a mystery that resists easy answers and straightforward clues. Furious, Ava begins screaming and the office door swings open, showing the shadow of Ava's demon. Please correct me if Im wrong once youve seen the whole show! Ava: Are you seriously blaming me for being possessed? Just search below. Instead of focusing on her possession, this movie asks the question, what is life like AFTER your demon has been exorcised? With no memory of the past month, she must attend a Spirit Possessions . This is a perfect horror movie for a chill night. Natalie's mother, Rosa (Dominique Valadi), opposes the union and almost walks out. The acting and story are very well done. It sets a world where this kind of things seem normal and that feels nice, like getting something annoying out of the way. Bernard: Are you still smoking marijuana? The program is led by Tony (Wass Stevens), a gruff man that insists that Ava take the program seriously as to do otherwise would just raise the likelihood that the demon would return, as repossessions will frequently happen. If they can pull the necklace off and reject the demon, they graduate since this shows that they are strong enough to deter future possessions. I spent the entire flick wondering why respected actors like William Sadler, Carol Kane and Lou Taylor Pucci (who is unrecognizable here) would stoop to participate in this sorry excuse of a film. Minus that flimsy ending, Gallands got every element of this film right on point. Relatively well acted with a unique spin on the possession genre. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It's a question not many movies have asked, so I sat down and took it in. Please consider upgrading to a Pro accountfor less than a couple bucks a month, youll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages (example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads! For a while, Karim and Natalies team up is the weirdest thing about the show, which has the typical gritty police work and societal excavations one expects from Israeli prestige programming. Her latest film puts her in the titular role of Ava and teams her up with director Tate Taylor after . She is then recaptured and is put in a car with Roger, who is to take her to the asylum. | Theres an SPA handbook thats a bit reminiscent of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased in Beetlejuice, members are instructed to not use the D word and they also all have very different relationships with their uninvited spiritual guest. Whereas Ava is eager to get rid of her rather malicious evil entity, another group member named Hazel (Annabelle Dexter-Jones) has basically fallen in love with hers. The colors used to make day and night feel different are just a superb touch and adds to the story being a genuine fun ride. I won't bother to describe the plot of this disaster, but some of the dialog is pricelesssuch as 'I think my demon likes me, I'm the first girl he was ever inside.' After breaking into Hollywood with a number of prestige dramatic roles, Ava is the latest example of Chastain continuing her push into action blockbusters in recent years. The cast was great, the cinematography was appropriately oddball (so many Dutch angles! Perri splits her time between Los Angeles and New York, but wherever the film and television coverage takes her, she goes! Possession (1981) Ending Explained. and our I dont think that weve ever had a competent story (Exorcist 2, anyone?) Avas quest for the truth makes the film feel like more of a detective yarn than a straight-up horror flick, and Galland elevates the noirish tone with a heavy use of atmospheric neon. Quirky and naturally charming in sort of deadpan way, Krause, like many other leads in similarly peculiar films, holds her own and delivers a good performance that I think could be even better without the script's limitations. This is where Wass Stevens steps in as Tony, the head of Spirit Possessions Anonymous. User Ratings Her mother was tormented by the same demon at one point, why wouldn't she just explain to her daughter in the first place?! Sounds as fresh as it is with humor that isn't trying to be funny, but definitely is. While Ava is struggling to clean up her apartment and mend fences with old friends (you sorta acted like a megabitch when you were possessed, one observes) she attends AA-like sessions led by the hard-nosed Tony (Wass Stevens). Rating: R (Bloody. AVA'S POSSESSION doesn't really take off like a movie should. March 30, 2022. . Here, possession is commonplace enough the judicial system has a way of handling it: Either you can stand trial for all the crimes your body committed while you werent in control, or you can enroll in Spirit Possession Anonymous. Ava's Possessions Review | SXSW 2015 - Collider Props to cinematographer Adrian Correia for presenting the films bright colour palette. Yes, a visual treat as well. I just watched this movie and I kind of liked it. It goes for a neo-noir horror mystery comedy, how cool is that? No word yet on Alvarezs pitch for his own take on the material, but we expect more real soon. Horror is in trouble if this doesn't become a cult classic someday. 'Ava's Possessions': EW review | EW.com Ava then recalls finding a tattoo similar to the one she received during the ritual, making her realize that her sister had deliberately sent the demon into her in order to avoid getting possessed herself. Written and directed by Jordan Galland: Ava's Possessions is relatively unique as a mixture of possession horror and film noir, though it somewhat lacks the much needed energy and eagerness in pursuing its meandering narrative. Joking aside, the story Avas Possessions is seriously its strong point. Ava's Possessions - Movies on Google Play It's not the typical horror slapstick, it plays more like a sitcom of sorts, in the truest sense. The film begins during the tail end of her . Practically the entire cast gets whats needed to make this film work. She gets some leads and finds some clues and eventually comes full circle. By the same token, the humour wont play well with everyone, even though its not flaunted. For more information, please see our 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Where precisely does it go off the rails? Avas Possessions picks up post-exorcism, as Brooklynite Ava (Martha Marcy May Marlene star Louisa Krause) wakes up with no memory of her 28-day possession. Ava's Possessions (2015) - Ava's Possessions (2015) - User Reviews - IMDb | From an acting and character standpoint, Krause nails it as Ava with a realistically straight performance. This is one of the most original movies i have seen recently. Ava's Possessions (2015) directed by Jordan Galland - Letterboxd 'Carnival Row' Season 2, Episode 5: Recap And Ending, Explained: Was Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. Well, as grounded as things would get in this films universe. It was pretty cool trying to figure out what's happening and putting the story together. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. (Re-summoning Hazels demon requires a trip to an occult shop, owned by a delightfully wicked Carol Kane.) Like open a new tab and stream this movie, watch it, then tell everyone you know. Movies Explained. and that music, with all its funhouse-mirror doo-wop and moody rockabilly-ish twang, was ready for action. It happened . Its not just Rosa who resorts to ritual in the wake of the tragedy. Loved the idea, enjoyed the movie, but left with unanswered questions. While Ava is trying to piece together her missing 28 days she discovers blood stains on her floor. Incredible, modern film noir. There's quite the idea here, comically displays the aftereffect of the unfortunate event, but it becomes too busy with overload of subplots, colors and eventually too plodding for its own good. Letterboxd Limited. Shes left trying to put her life back together and figure out exactly what she did in those 28 days all while grappling with her demons constant attempts to return. Posters are sourced from TMDb and Posteritati, and appear for you and visitors to your profile and content, depending on settings. Disneys Haunted Mansion Teaser Trailer Welcomes You Back to an Iconic House of Horrors! They walk down the aisle to a chuppah wreathed in fog machine exhaust and pyrotechnics. He went into Sophie's cell and gave her a written confession of her betrayal for her to attest, but Sophie chose not to sign it. Just another solid pickup for a dollar. Demonic possessions are a well-trod trope in horror movies, but most of them end with the exorcism. This complicates her attempts to make amends with those she injured while possessed, including a stranger named Conrad, the pursuit of whom opens up a whole new can of worries for poor Ava. Shortly after coming to, she asks her family if anyone bothered to call out sick from work for her. It did not succeed in my opinion. It does this by a subversion that presents problems of its own. It was more of a mystery than a horror film, but it was certainly a thriller. Overall this was a fun movie, with good acting, and some neat effects. It was sexy to have a rule-breaking bad boy take control, she says; shes sure if she got him back she could keep him from being quite so homicidal. A support group that helps her readjust herself after having a demon inside her fucking things up. A semicomic mystery imagining what happens after the credits roll on a demonic-possession fright flick, Jordan Gallands Avas Possessions realizes the obvious it aint easy to reenter polite society after spending weeks unleashing hell and then makes things worse. Isabela Merced(Rosaline) has also joined the cast, we learned earlier this week, and The Hollywood Reporter brings us more casting news. But that's all i am going to tell you. there is an excellent twist that I was totally not expecting! | I enjoyed the different take on possessions and what happens after its over. All the other actors are just okay. She then discovers that while she did kill Ben's father, he was only in the apartment because he was a hitman that Roger had hired to murder her, as Ava had seen Roger with the prostitute and then joined the two of them for a sexual encounter. Louisa Krause stars in the titular lead role Ava, a woman who's in the process of recovery after being afflicted by demonic possession. Jordan Galland's "Ava's Possessions" stood out in the Fantasia International Film Festival schedule to me for being a movie about the aftermath of a possession. Ava's Possessions (2015) The Movie Database (TMDB) I realise I'm supposed to suspend disbelief a bit more than usual due to the genre, but the alternate world, where possession is relatively common, wasn't as fleshed out as I thought it should be. This is the one. Shes soon justified in her apprehensions. Her family pushes her into accepting a plea deal that would spare her jail time or commitment in a facility for troubled ex-possessed people as long as she attended a rehabilitation program for the recently exorcised, as possessions are seen as a real, common phenomena. Still Alive Watch Demi Lovatos Scream VI Music Video Featuring New Clips from the Movie! It's an interesting angle to take and director Jordan Galland makes considerable hay with the concept, even if some elements fall flat. See production, box office & company info. Perri's a proud graduate of Columbia University's Film MFA program and member of the Critics Choice Association. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. He takes these very familiar big screen scenarios, puts his own smart spin on them and then he winds up with these especially appealing and thoughtful concepts that are a blast to consider well beyond the feature. Being possessed once increases chances of another possession tenfold, you see, and one must be trained to fight off that homesick evil spirit. I don't care what the critics say. Obstacles both practical and supernatural thwart Avas happy ending here in ways that should satisfy many genre fans, if not the most reverent, at fests; on video, the pic should have a modest reach. It is mysterious alright. Just go watch it. The story has some ok twists, but I was hoping they'd be a little better to really pull it all together. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Writer/Artist/Gamer from the Great White North. Ava's Possessions (126) 5.6 1 h 28 min 2016 X-Ray R. A young woman recovers from a demonic possession. The prostitute is murdered before she can tell Ava anything. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search. Sure that he is dead as a result of her, Ava lies to Ben about how she found the watch but ends up spending time with Ben. Ava is recovering from demonic possession. "[3] The New York Times was more critical, writing that "Though at times pleasingly quirky, the story is too slackly written and insipidly photographed to entertain."[4]. Directed by Jordan Galland.