“Demonic” (2021) follows Carly (Carly Pope), who still has bad dreams about her mother’s crimes from twenty years ago. When the opportunity arises, she decides to confront her past, but discovers that maybe she misunderstood the threat, and it is far from over. Neill Blomkamp’s fourth movie is a sci fi meets classic horror romp, which fails on both fronts. It was filmed during the pandemic, and it may be time to just call it quits.

“Demonic” had potential to be two different decent films. The first would be using demons as a metaphor for mental health issues in a family and delving into Carly’s character more. Blomkamp could have chosen to have Carly worry about being like her mom because she was approaching the same age that her mom snapped or explained that it was the anniversary of her mom’s arrest so that is why Carly’s dreams are par for the course and not an alarm that she should heed. He also could have inflicted more trauma on Carly. Why did she remain physically unscathed during her mom’s crime spree?

Instead Blomkamp gives us very little details about this thirty-eight-year-old woman. She has a job, but what does she do? Dunno. “Work” calls her cell once. She sends it to voicemail and with no concerns about the financial ramifications, keeps it pushing. Her friendships lack substance. It felt as if Blomkamp watched a clip from “Sex and the City,” muttered to himself, “Women like wine” and decided that was sufficient. He does not know how to make whole people. A stiff breeze of cocktail party questioning would knock them down. Somehow Carly is functional enough to have a nice home and be as quirky as she wants to be (bright colored hair and windbreaker). Also if Martin (Chris William Martin), her other friend (she only has two), has not seen her in twenty years, how does he have her cell? How does she know where he lives—is it the same place that he lived when he was eighteen? Blomkamp never grounds the film in the organic connective logistics tissue that makes a film feel real.

Maybe Blomkamp was not interested in the characters, but the actual mythology of this universe that he created. Terrific then he should not follow Carly, but Martin as the bridge between Carly’s story and the underworld of elite Vatican exorcists. The crime spree appeared to have a more profound impact on Martin than Carly since the film reveals that he never stopped researching and had been preparing for another confrontation. “Demonic” paints Martin as rational and not a complete stalker for locating Carly when she had cut ties with him decades before. He has a drink ready for her at their first meeting, and it is a fountain soda, not a bottle. Blomkamp is unfamiliar with all the little things which would actually alarm women, but sees it as caring. He should have just leaned into it and followed Martin. 

Alternatively I would happily watch a television series following an elite band of Vatican black ops priests/soldiers fighting evil. Michael (who was clearly supposed to be Sharlto Copley, Michael J Rogers) gave us Lex Luthor/ villain from “Iron Man” (2008) vibes when he started being disrespectful and was snacking while witnessing deeply personal and allegedly traumatic moments. The more sensitive Daniel (Terry Chen) worked as his counterbalance. Their characters and dynamic felt credible and comfortable. Then we get introduced to a mythic weapon dating back 1,000 years. They have access to resources. “Demonic” could have been fun in a CW/WB way, but Blomkamp fails them too; however it could be because it would be too expensive to devote more time to characters with money.

“Demonic” is unsatisfying and over relies on its audience and characters being stupid to advance the plot. What person in their right mind is going to accept the offer of entering the subconscious of a mass murderer? Jennifer Lopez and Vincent D’Onofrio did not spend all day in makeup and wardrobe to make “The Cell” (2000) for you to ignore their sacrifices! Also Carly, you as the next of kin, are not horrified that no one asked for your permission before conducting experiments on your mother then have the nerve to withhold that information from you and ask you to participate without asking more questions about side effects!?! Also if you have been plagued with dreams about your mother, you are just going to ignore this gift and plunge right into danger. The denouement is particularly stupid because this demon is scoring 10 to 0, and you think that you have the juice to rescue people?!? You are ill equipped. I did appreciate that only Martin had valid emotional reactions and knew that he should call the authorities. I love a final girl, but Carly is not it. First, she should not be alive or functional, and second, she would be institutionalized. No one would believe her explanation regarding how she got injured.

“Demonic” also looks dated. I was hoping for “Session 9” (2001) but got the ghetto version of “A Scanner Darkly” (2006) or “The Congress” (2013), two movies that I already visually did not like, but comparatively are stunning and vibrant to Blomkamp’s lacking depiction of technology entering the subconscious. It screams nineties. You can depict a subconscious as anything, and I get a poor illustration of reality. Blomkamp fails to make reality, dreams, and the subconscious visually distinctive. This is the man that gave us “District 9” (2009) and makes video games. Even if he is a crap storyteller, his films should be gorgeous, and they are not. He has too much experience to make something so drab.

Demon possession movies can be boring so I give points to Blomkamp for attempting to reinvigorate the narrative. To refresh a genre, you really must understand it, but Blomkamp appears to be an acolyte. His demon only dates to the nineteenth century! My dude, what? That is not ancient. The United States is older. Why so late to the party? Why is that building the source of its power? “Supernatural” devotes more thought to its monsters. Also Blomkamp creates a demon with hopes and desires and an aesthetic, but I would have preferred more backstory on how it developed its tastes. Is Blomkamp unaware that popular culture is more obsessed with women possessed than actual accounts of demon possession? If there was a cool scene, it is when we get to see the demon’s relief at taking a body. It showed more genuine enjoyment than most of the characters. Only the demon was happy to be there. 

Also in an early “Demonic” scene, Sam leaves her home without wearing the windbreaker then is shown seconds later putting it on. Come on! These stupid continuity errors are preventable and sloppy. If you are going to risk people’s lives to make a movie during the early days of the pandemic, at least make a good one.

“Demonic” is a disappointing movie. It is not so bad that it is good. Solid, multiple undercooked ideas make it a mediocre mess. There is no reason to watch this movie unless you are a fan of someone in the cast and want to cheer for them.