(2006) ***1/2Requiem is a German made film regarding an epileptic girl named Michaela Klingler and her tragic story. Her family are devout Catholics and her disease is mistaken for possession by herself and a priest. Michaela goes off to college and stops taking her pills. Her behavior becomes more and more erratic as she loses control. Her friends, desperate and not knowing where to turn take Michaela back home. Once she is there it is decided that she should undergo exorcism.
This film is basically the same story as “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” with less theatrics and superb acting. Not that Jennifer Carpenter wasn't excellent as Emily Rose but that film got more involved with trials and the legal ramifications of an exorcism gone bad. Requiem is all about the girl. As a matter of fact we barely get to see an exorcism in action. It delves deeper into the psychological damage done to this girl by her parents(the Mom mostly) who forcefully crammed religious crap down her throat her whole life. She is convinced that she must be evil because she wants to go out and have fun like other college students. She begins to act out in fits every time she tries to pray. It's like she must justify her “bad behavior” by disassociating herself. The Devil made me do it! More drama than horror but a very good watch none the less. I stumbled on it by accident and it was a good find.
3 comments:
This sounds good. I liked “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” and this sounds like it would make a good double feature with it. I like the fact that the newer Exorcism films are starting address the idea that these people are mentally ill, not possessed.
I like that too but at the same time it takes a lot of the creepiness out of the film.
Well maybe college students ARE evil.
This sounds cool, as I'm always ready for anything that gives religion a spank.
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