The Exorcist – A Heaven of Hell

By starrymag | December 8, 2017

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

 

 

Verity (Brianna Hildebrand) is pensive as she gazes out the Holstrom’s living room window. An angry rain is beating down upon the island, but they’re safe…for now. Rose (Li Jun Li)  joins Verity, Shelby (Alex Barima) and Caleb (Hunter Dillon) in their kind neighbors’ home – but tensions are high. Harper (Beatrice Kitsos) has been having nightmares and the children have been unable to talk to Andy (John Cho) since he committed that unfortunate homicide. Verity’s anxiety manifests as anger, challenging the authority of Rose, Marcus (Ben Daniels) and Tomas (Alfonso Herrera). Andy is in need a real help, something that two priests can’t provide. Her doubts are not unfounded. These children watched their father murder a woman in cold blood – how does a family come back from that? If the demon has its way…they won’t.

 

Marcus and Tomas are at Andy’s bedside and reciting prayers to weaken the demon’s grasp. Andy, the real Andy, is still too in love with the illusion of Nikki (Alicia Witt) that he is clinging onto the idea that Marcus and Tomas are the real demons. The demon has taken control of the wheel, speaking for Andy and taunting Marcus about his little church mouse. With renewed vigor, the men splash holy water on Andy’s restrained frame. He retreats into his own mind. Andy is lying in bed with Nikki, though he appears to be minutely aware of what’s going on around his physical body. He asks Nikki how long they’ve been there together, but is quickly distracted by her allure.

 

Father Bennett (Kurt Egyiawan) is roused from a fitful sleep within Mouse’s car. His wound has been primitively sealed and he is in visible pain…but it’s the least of his worries. Bennett presses Mouse (Zuleikha Robinson) for information on her relationship with Mouse. The demon that had taken residence inside Maria Walters’ body had spoken to her in Marcus’ voice, calling her none other than “my little church mous.” Mouse insists that they just worked together, but it’s clear that their relationship was much more intimate than a professional one. Quickly after this exchange, Bennett slips back into unconsciousness.

 

We are transported back to 1999. A long-haired Marcus is sleeping with his head on a desk. Mouse enters the room and teases him, running her hands through his luscious locks. They share a knowing gaze. There is a type of love between that, though strong, it is remains ambiguous. Mouse reveals that while Marcus is certain in his place as a vessel for God many, including herself, are not as lucky. Marcus rejects the notion and insists that she is just as powerful as he…and when she isn’t strong, he’ll be there to protect. We all believe him.

 

Jumping back into the present, Marcus washes his face while Tomas approaches with some cheap coffee. Even though they’re in Washington, a Starbucks is a little out of their radius. Now it’s Marcus’ turn to be questioned about Mouse. Tomas inquires as to whether or not Marcus had a partner before him, but Marcus insists they were just friends. He goes on to assume that Mouse is probably a fat and happy nun now, completely unaware of her legacy of kicking ass and taking names.

 

The kids are still struggling. Harper cries in Rose’s lap. Caleb distracts himself by talking to Russ (Timothy Webber) about Truck’s beloved bird. Shelby listens on as Russ talks about Andy’s bout of “pneumonia.” Verity and Colleen (June B. Wilde) discuss their impending move off the island. Verity is fearful of her uncertain future. Will she go to college? Will she be homeless again? Her life has been turned upside by Andy’s choice to let the demon dressed as Nikki get inside of him.

 

Mouse stands at the foot of Bennett’s hospital bed. The doctor reveals that he had gone septic and that they will need to inform the police of his suspicious injuries. This information sends her back down memory lane to a time where she let curiosity get the best of her. Mouse enters a secluded chamber to speak with Miriam (Lily Knight) – the victim of a demon whom she has met with many times before. Mouse reads passages from her Bible as she approaches the demon, but she does not yet have enough conviction. The demon tempts her with promises of seeing God, to feel what Marcus feels. In her haste, Mouse steps within the circle of danger and the demon makes its move. It pounces on her and brings her to the ground.

 

In the present day, Marcus is working to bargain with Rose. Andy is running out of time. His possession is not as formulaic as others and they need to find a way to snap him back into reality. Marcus suggests using one of his children to remind him of what lies here on earth. Verity, who had been eavesdropping, enters the conversation and volunteers herself. Tomas is too busy combating the darkness that he let inside his own mind to join in on this conversation. Alone in the bathroom he can hear whispers from beyond. He leaves the room and re-enters the room where Andy is being kept. As he moves to set down a glass of water, something in the air shifts. When he turns back around, Nikki is perched on top of Andy like a predator waiting for its meal to die. Tomas closes his eyes and the apparition disappears…but he’s got more to worry about. Andy has a sharp shard of glass that he’s hiding in his palm.

 

Outside the home, Marcus has another chance encounter with Peter (Christopher Cousins), who offers him a ride. As they travel together we are transported back to 1999. Marcus is at Mouse’s bedside. Her skin is cracked like her soul, to show us where the demon slipped inside. Mouse fights him briefly, but he’s too powerful. The demon taunts Marcus’ desire to run away with Mouse. He recites to her a song they shared together, but the demon thanks him for ripening her up. Marcus flees, carrying with him his guilt and nothing else.

 

Peter pulls Marcus from his own thoughts and demands that when this little project is over they need to talk. Peter offers to drive away with Marcus, a perfect parallel to his past with Mouse. They share a brief kiss and neither man is sure if it’s a “thank you” or a “goodbye.”

 

Verity and Rose have prepared as much as they could for Verity’s re-introduction to her possessed father. Marcus reminds her that the demon will be talking, not Andy. Verity is brave in her willingness to help Andy, even when Marcus warns her of its ability to manipulate. “Let the damn thing try,” she challenges, though her voice is soft and unsteady. They follow the young girl up the stairs to find Tomas, who is still praying over the shell of Andy. Verity calls out to him. His eyes are open, but he is largely unresponsive until Verity begins to tell their family tale. The demon within begins to laugh at her, invalidating her version of the story with a single venomous line. “When they find you in an alley, needle marks in your arm…they’ll say, ‘She never had a chance.’ ‘Cause that’s what happens to little girls nobody wants.”

 

Rose is beyond her point of comfort and tries to get Verity to leave with her, but there is still work to be. Andy begins to speak in Nikki’s voice, a maneuver that cuts through Verity’s resolve. Tomas reminds her that it is not her mother, but a demon. The demon doesn’t care, it’s going to keep tearing her down. Verity rejects the demon and comes closer. Andy’s palm twitches, reminding us all that he has a very sharp shard of glass in his possession. Verity agrees to the demon’s declaration of her disappointments, something the demon wasn’t prepared for. Without a dry eye in the house, Verity kisses Andy’s forehead.

 

The real Andy has a moment of strength and breaks through. He tells Verity that he loves her so much and demands that they get Verity out of the room as soon as possible. The demon is punishing him for his resistance, swallowing his sentience with every breath.

 

Back in time once again, a young priest is standing over Mouse. He inspects her pupils to ensure only two are there and reports back to Father Robert (Bob McCracken). There is no sign of contamination…or Marcus. Father Robert blames the incident on Mouse’s curiosity and tells her that Marcus left in the middle of the exorcism. Father Robert doesn’t care. He reminds her to know her place in God’s home. She is not there to discover, she is there to obey. But that’s not who she was then…or now.

 

Modern day Mouse leans over the unconscious Father Bennett and kisses his forehead, a certain goodbye to a new friend.

 

Rose has collected the tickets that will get the kids off of the island and to true safety. They are waiting for their ferry when Rose realizes that Verity has gone missing. The kids are hesitant to give her up, but Shelby finally caves. She has returned to the Holstrom’s to get a book Andy had given her. Rose speeds off, leaving Shelby in charge. It doesn’t take long to find the young rebel who is walking through the rain and up a heavily wooded road. Rose promises to buy Verity a new copy, but it’s not just the book. It’s the only thing she has from Andy. Rose gets her inside and they make their way to the house together.

 

Marcus has taken the lead with the exorcism of Andy. It taunts him for leaving all those he loves. It speaks with Mouse’s tongue and he snaps, approaching the demon to strike him. Tomas pulls him back from the edge and appeals to him. He is too vulnerable now. They agree instead to work in shifts, with Tomas going first while Marcus cools down. Marcus retires to the couch to get some rest. Tomas prays and Andy…uses the glass to slowly cut down his restraints.

 

A little time passes, and Marcus rejoins Tomas upstairs to thank him for keeping him grounded. Tomas is certain that the demon is losing its hold, but we are not so sure. They share a nice moment while Andy “sleeps”, Marcus anointing Tomas as an exorcist, instead of an apprentice. Tomas is touched by the gesture, and they pray to the saints for protection.

 

The sun has gone down. Shelby, Harper, and Caleb are still waiting for Rose and Verity to return. The lights are flickering now, shutting off one by one until the children grow fearful. Shelby tries to remain courageous, but he is unsettled.

 

Verity enters Russ and Colleen’s home. The lights are off, and power seems to have gone off. She makes her way through the home and find her book. Tucking it closely to her chest, she hears stirring within the house. A door slams shut, someone must be home.

 

We’re suddenly back at Andy’s home. Marcus is sleeping on the couch…again. Or is it still? Tomas mutters his mantra, “Pray for us.” Over and over again, like a broken record. The camera pans up the stairs to Andy’s room. Andy is gone…but Tomas is still there. Kind of. Tomas sits, a milky film over his eyes. “Pray for us,” he whispers. We enter his mind, the only place he is performing an exorcism. The demon has trapped him within a simulation, the same way it has trapped Andy.

 

Verity makes her way back downstairs. The Holstrom’s front door is open. She calls out for Rose and enters the sitting room. The Holstrom’s sit in the dark at the table. Verity approaches them, only to find that they have been murdered. Verity panics, the floodgates open. Rose appears behind her and makes one desperate request, “Run.”

 

Andy appears behind Rose. “Hey kiddo.”