'Ava's Possessions': What happened last night?

There have been many films in the horror genre over the years that deal with demonic possession and how the characters came be to possessed (The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose), but never the aftermath of the ordeal, or how the victim's life and the lives of those around them are affected. With Ava's Possessions, screenwriter and director Jordan Galland tries to show how a character must answer for her actions in the aftermath of her possession. This dark comedy works the same techniques as most exorcism movies, but subverts the genre by adding humour and answering the unexplainable.

The film begins right at the climax of the exorcism, where the priest tries to cast out the unwanted spirt. Ava (Louisa Krause) awakens from her possession to find her family and friends asking her what happened, but she is in a state of amnesia. Ava's possession has left a path of devastation and everyone blames her for what has happened, including her mom who delivers that classic line, "marijuana is a gateway drug." Ava has two options: either face jail time, or take part in mandated Spirit Possession Anonymous courses. Wanting to move on with her life, Ava decides on the mandated therapy, which brings her back to the world of evil spirits and possession. In order to rid herself of her possession for good, Ava must track down and make amends with the people she hurt along the way. The burning question is, will Ava overcome her amnesia, move on with her life, and rid herself of this evil?

As a dark satiric comedy about comedy, Ava's Possessions worked and played with a new trope in horror by making the aftermath the focus of them film. The audience seemed to have more of a fun time than I did, however. This is not the classic Hollywood possession movie that audiences are used to; it is a b-horror. The style, editing, and cinematography were interesting—from the overhead angels, to the drum beats, and the use of blue and red hues—and at times undermined what is expected from a typical horror movie through the use of fresh imagery, including a neon pink cross. As it stands, Ava's Possessions brings something new to the horror genre while still paying homage to the classic possession dramas, which for me was the most enjoyable part of the film.

Rating: 3/5

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