The Beast Inside is not your typical exorcism-based thriller. While it’s not nearly “The Exorcist”, the UNCORK’D Entertainment film directed by Jim Towns, starring Sadie Katz (Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort, Scorned), Vernon Wells (Commando, Mad Max), and Laurene Landon(Maniac Cop, Agramon’s Gate) has its gripping moments and does have an under-lining message. The movie was co-written by Katz and Towns, produced by Katz with a soundtrack by renowned composer Randy Edelman (My Cousin Vinny, Last of the Mohicans).
The film shadows Anne, portrayed by Katz, a mom who is possessed by a family inherited demonic force after the death of her own mother played by Landon. She seeks the help of Ex-Priest, characterized by Wells who hides his own shameful secret, along with a reiki healer and psychiatrist in a desperate race to save herself and her young son who is sure to suffer the same fate. Her family dismisses her attempts while questioning her mental health until she is forced to do a self- exorcism, a theme never before challenged in a film.
Katz, a veteran horror Queen was convincing of her plight in a way that only a truly real-life mom (as she is) can do. You felt her frustration at being dismissed and her heuristic attempts at staying alive. Landon as the mom was definitely an acting highlight as she became devoured by evil. Anthony W. Preston was also a convincing entity as Anne’s husband. The transient, low-life motel manager Tom played by John Pasquale brought a sense of comedy into the otherwise scary abode.
The movie was delicately pasted altogether by the dissonant yet godly music and sound by Edelman who not only breathed life into the film as many film score composers do, but actually resurrected a portion of it. His music was a paramount and aggressive force lurking in the background and bringing about actual screen terror.
The Beast Inside is worth the watch especially for the underlying theme and the impact of the scares. It is successful in obscuring the lines between what is real and the unreal that can make you question what is really going on in the film. Being possessed is a universal fear for those who believe it can happen.
8/10 Stars