Rating of
2.5/4
A Different Kind of Evil
Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/11/14
One could say that sex and horror go together just as good as chocolate and peanut butter - that is to say, one compliments the other very well. In the slasher heyday of the 80s, sex usually meant you had just signed your own death warrant. And there are no shortage of films where that beautiful woman turns out to be a vampire/demon/alien - and proceeds to do terrible things to men (and often other women). But Here Comes the Devil puts its own spin on the whole sex/horror genre.
I don't know how I was expecting the movie to open - but I can say I was not expecting a pair of lesbians right off the bat. But the violence enters quickly after as a man (who we learn later is a vicious serial killer) proceed to beat and take off a few fingers fron one of the women before being clocked in the head and retreating to a hillside covered in rocks.
We fast-forward a bit to visit a family on vacation - and that theme continues as the teen daughter experiences her first period and, while tending to her daughter, the mother notices a creepy guy loitering outside the bathroom and taking a unhealthy interest in them. The younger brother is confused as well, as the father tries to explain what has happened. As the siblings go off - the parents take part in a little adventure in the car - leading to yet another tragedy as their children soon after go missing.
It is only a day later they are found... but they are changed. They have blank expressions, no emotion in their voices or actions and are generally changed - after the quick examination, the doctor reveals her daughter may have been sexually assaulted - and the mother is quick to place blame on the creep who was checking them out in the bathroom. But things go from bad to worse as the lights start to flicker at night - and the son and daughter exhibit some more or less paranormal behavior.
While the parents go to confront the man they think is responsible, a babysitter is brought in - and what she experiences leads to what is one of the most uncomfortable revelations in any film (and surprise, it once again revolves around sex). The mother is the one to realize things are not as they seem - and the dark truth she discovers leads to a pretty intense ending.
I have to admit, the film took some pretty dark turns. The acting isn't going to win any awards, but I do like the use of the camera angles throughout. One thing is for certain - this isn't the kind of horror you often get - and while it's not perfect, if offers something different - and makes you reexamine the role that sex plays in the horror genre - a role you won't look at the same way again.
