Hostage to the Devil (2016)

After taking a night off to work on one of my many projects, I decided to get back at it early this evening. What was my choice? It was the 2016 documentary Hostage to the Devil.

Plot/ A child possessed. An exorcist locked in combat with an ancient evil. In the battle for saving a soul, the question remains, just who really is the 'Hostage to the Devil'?

For many, the name Malachi Martin is somewhat polarizing. If you don’t recognize the name, he well-known theologian, and controversial figure in and around the Vatican and in the study of demonic possession. I remember the first time I heard him speak; it was eye opening. In this documentary, there is a tremendous mixture of archived audio recordings and footage alongside eyewitness testimonials that show the truth behind many pontifical secrets. Well made and thought provoking, this documentary is more that a story of Martin and his death, it is an expose of many different elements within Catholicism, and one of the reasons why religious practice sits at a crossroads. In the end, if you have heard the name Malachi Martin, this is a solid documentary and one that you should watch.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

With my day at Universal Studios behind me, and Islands of Adventure on tap for tomorrow, I decided to kick back and catch up on some of the movies I have watched in the past few weeks. Next up on the schedule is the 2016 true story, The Conjuring 2.

Plot/ Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by a malicious spirit.

This was one of the few movies that I decided to catch when it came out. More importantly, I was able to catch it at the drive-in, something that just helps create even more atmosphere than usual. Fortunately, that just took this one to a different level. I will admit that this was one sequel that was better than the source material. Everything worked really well with a strong cast, a tight storyline, and some solid atmosphere that permeated through the entire film. The casting is perfect. Unfortunately, I did not find this one as scary as many proclaimed. While I love the true aspects of the tale and wanted to be scared, for me, it played it too safe. In the end, this was a fun sequel and interesting story that fit perfectly within the Conjuring mythos, and it was a movie that should be seen.

The Conjuring (2013)

After a fun first-week back teaching after my two-week break, I started my weekend by going to the drive-in. There is nothing better than to experience a horror or Sci-Fi flick outside in elements, where the wind through the trees, the moonlight, the fireflies, all ad something to the atmosphere. This double feature was awesome, which makes it even better. The first flick on the docket, the classic supernatural true story, The Conjuring.

Plot/ Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.

I rarely tell people to run out and see a movie in the theater, but that is exactly what I am going to do with this one. Go see it! I was lucky enough to have some added atmosphere by seeing it in the drive-in, but this film did not need it. The storyline is awesome, the realism incredible and the solid cast works perfectly and keeps you drawn in throughout the movie. More importantly, cinematography creates an eerie atmosphere, which adds to the fact that this is based on a true story, and legendary paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren sit at the heart of this film, making the scares even more alive and realistic. There are some uneven moments, but those are rare. In the end, this may be the best paranormal themed movie to hit the screen in some time and will likely have the same effect on viewers today as The Shining had on me when I saw it at the drive-in so many years ago. Check it out!