NAME THE DEMON – found footage review

The supernatural is a tried and true topic for found footage films and horror movies, and with reason. It is our fear of not just our physical selves but our metaphysical selves that keeps many of us awake at night. The fear that not only could something happen to our body, but also to our soul. The notion of an outside entity gaining control of us is a horrifying one. The idea that someone or something can push us aside like a child out of their parent’s seat and take us over is terrifying. 

Such is the idea at the core of NAME THE DEMON, a new found footage film that will thrill a lot of folks who check it out. 

The story focuses on a young family that are desperate for help. The wife and mother of a young child is not acting like herself, is in fact acting like someTHING else, and emergency help has been sent to help. Help comes in the form of a trio of men that have come to perform and film an exorcism, against the wishes of the husband. As the evening progresses though, hidden truths will emerge and something horrifying will go on the prowl. God help them all. 

Praise be to well-made found footage movies that follow the rules! I bang on this point a lot and cannot say how much I appreciate when a film knows the sort of movie it is and takes care of the simple stuff. There is generally no shaky cam, there is no music forced into the film, and there is generally a reason to be filming – they need a record of what they are doing. While there are moments that make you wonder why they’d keep filming – you find this in almost every movie reliant on someone “capturing” the action – but it doesn’t hamper the narrative of the piece. 

The film is generally well acted with a really fun performance by the demon, I mean woman of the hour Jessier Nerud, who really goes for it in the role. You need someone willing to do that for a movie like this to work and it works, in part, because of her. The rest of the performances are good as well and keep your attention through the film. Some of the writing, especially for the demonic moments, can get a little dodgy, but the film has such a great momentum that if you’re in, you’re in. 

And I was in. 

The movie ramps up and up and has some great scares in it. This is not a film about showy special effects but one about tone, atmosphere, and performance. While the film may feel familiar in what it’s doing, it works because it’s so well made, and well done. The actors are “present” in the film and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. As things wind down and we learn some of the truth of what’s going on none of it seems far-fetched, though a little more fleshing out would have been nice. 

This is a good, solid film, and one that a LOT of people will enjoy, especially if watched at night with the lights down. It’s a creepy, fun movie that has some very good creep factor, and is a well down found footage film. Well worth a look. 

3.5 out of 5 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17078956/