There has been a lot of
negativity surrounding this movie, I may be on my own here, but
The
Devil Inside quotes aren't that bad. The movie certainly
doesn't break
any new ground in presenting us with yet another faux documentary
'found-footage' horror, but it does offer some intriguing ideas about
exorcism, some tense and uncomfortable moments with some interesting
characters. The story
centers around a young woman who as a child witnessed her mother three
people in what is later discovered to be an exorcism. Wanting to find
out the truth the woman embarks on a trip to Rome to document her
finding on exorcism. The narrative is sometimes slow but never off
topic and provides some depth to each character. I know that
many audiences felt that
where this movie fails is
the conclusion, which is extremely abrupt with a total lack of
closure resulting in an uneven experience without any real payoff.
However, I found this is just what the movie needed. An abrupt and
quick ending!
Our Rating:
Directed
by: William Brent Bell
Written by:
William Brent Bell
Mathew Peterman
Starring:
Fernanda Andrade
- Isabella Rossi
Simon Quaterman
- Ben
Evan Helmuth
- David
Ionut Grama
- Michael
Suzan Crowley
- Maria Rossi
Bonnie Morgan
- Rosa
Brian Johnson
- Lieutenant
Preston James Hillier
- Male Reporter
D.T Carney
- Detective
Maude Bonanni
- Aunt Sorlini
Marvin Duerkholz
- Luke Castagna
Marius Flowian
- Serbian Pimp
Suzanne Freeman
- Female Reporter
Les Mahoney
- Young Isabella
[movie starts with the
following statement]
'The Vatican does not authorize the recording of Roman Catholic
exorcisms. The Vatican did not endorse this film nor aid in
its completion.'
[first
lines; October 30, 1989, we hear a 911 operator taking call
from a woman speaking in a calm voice]
911 Operator:
South Hartford 911, what is your emergency?
Maria Rossi:
Three.. Three people...
911 Operator: Three
people. Ma'am, what's the problem? Are they injured?
Maria Rossi: Three
people... Three people are dead.
911 Operator: Did
you say dead?
Maria Rossi: I...
killed... them. Send the police.
911 Operator: Ma'am,
excuse me, who did you kill?
Maria Rossi: I
killed everyone.
[we hear the woman
hanging up the phone]
911 Operator: Ma'am?
Ma'am?
[we see footage from
'Crime Scene Walkthrough - South Hartford PD']
Lieutenant Dreyfus:
I'm entering what appears to be the living room. Living conditions are
best described being in a state of disarray. Watch your step.
[Dreyfus walks into the
kitchen]
Lieutenant Dreyfus: Kitchen
also in a state of disarray. Approaching the stairwell, where first
victim was found, dumped the instrument on the floor. Victim number one
is facing north, male, approximately hundred and sixty pounds.
Sustained injury to the left temple.
[camera cuts to Dreyfus
walking towards basement]
Lieutenant Dreyfus: Now
entering the basement, where victims number two and three were found.
[we see Dreyfus entering
the basement]
Lieutenant Dreyfus: This
is the basement to the house. We found victim number two, female,
approximately hundred and twenty pounds, facing west and the victims
right hand holding a religious paraphernalia, appear to be clutching.
Heading south, found another instrument on the floor. We found victim
number three. Male, approximately two hundred and ten pounds. There's
trauma to the head, apparent strangulation with a rope, which is
broken, torn away. We have blood splattering against the door.
[the camera pans towards
the center of the basement]
Lieutenant
Dreyfus:
In the center of the room we have a chair. The right armrest of the
chair is broken, apparent claw marks from struggle. Various straps used
for restraint
[we hear a loud noise,
the camera pans the room slowly looking over debris and junk, suddenly
something falls onto the camera and it cuts out]
[we see footage of a
local breaking news report that tells the details of the crime scene]
Male Reporter:
The quite South Hartford community was leveled by tragedy as three
clergy members were found dead.
[we see interview
footage with Det. Pullman]
Det. Robert Pullman:
At about 11:47 P.M., on Sunday evening, on the twentieth, we received a
emergency call on 911 wire.
[we see news footage
showing the bodies being taken out of the house]
Voice of Female Reporter:
Three bodies were taken out of this house. Two local priests and a nun.
[new footage goes back
to the interview with Det. Pullman]
Det. Robert Pullman: We
checked the location for any other victims and have not found any.
[news footage goes back
to show the house where victims where found]
Voice of Female Reporter:
Apparently, Maria Rossi, was hosting a church group
meeting in her home.
[footage goes back to
the interview with Det. Pullman]
Det. Robert Pullman: Our
homicide detectives are currently conducting and investigation.
[news footage shows
police officers escorting Maria Rossi out of her house]
Voice of Female Reporter:
Mrs. Rossi was found by police in a crawl space.
Det. Robert Pullman: We
can't speculate as to what the cause or the motive may have been, but
we're not ruling out any possibilities. However, at this time we don't
want to speculate on what may or may not have been the cause.
[news
footage shows Maria Rossi being escorted into a police car and then a
close
up of Maria Rossi sat in the car; as she turns and looks towards the
camera the footage freezes]
[just after the news
footage about Maria Rossi ends we see her daughter, Isabella Rossi,
talking into the camera]
Isabella Rossi:
My name is Isabella Rossi, and that was my mother. The thing I remember
about my mother is that she just had a huge heart
[Isabella holds up an
old family showing her mother and father and herself as a child]
Isabella Rossi: And
here we are. That was actually on my first. Can you see that?
[she holds the photo
closer to the camera]
Isabella Rossi: That
was my first Birthday Party. And I don't think it was until I was about
six years old that I actually started to notice, you know, something
was different. Her moods were changing, then she went away for a little
bit and when she came back they said she was better, but she wasn't. We
couldn't understand what was happening and I want answers.
Michael Schaefer:
So why are you doing this now?
Isabella Rossi: Because
I really need to understand what happened.
[we see filmmaker,
Michael Schaffer, speaking about Maria Rossi]
Michael Schaefer: What
Maria Rossi did and her subsequent life is incredibly tragic
and
clouded. And caught in the middle of it is her daughter, who is just
now learning the uh...circumstances of that tragedy.
[urologist Dr. Jeff
Victoroff speaks to the camera; he describes what disorders Maria Rossi
may be suffering from]
Dr. Jeff Victoroff:
If someone had asked me, how is it possible for Mrs. Rossi to have done
what she did, I would have gone through the list of things that cause
human aggression. Something like a major depression, schizophrenia or
dissociative identity disorder.
[Father Christopher
Aimes speaks to the camera about Maria's condition]
FR. Christopher Aimes:
It's my understanding that her current psychiatric doctor prognosis has
been D.I.D. Well, this is her seventh different diagnosis since 1987.
[Isabella talks into the
camera]
Isabella Rossi: You
start wondering, is it in my genes? You know, am I...am I gonna flip
out one day? Is it just a matter of time?
[we see news footage
reporting about Maria Rossi's sentencing]
Male Reporter: Two
years after she brutally murdered three people in her home, the South
Hartford jury found Maria Rossi, not guilty, by reason of insanity.
Rossi was committed to the South Hartford State Asylum.
Isabella Rossi: And
then September of that year my mother was transferred to the Centrino
Mental Hospital for the criminally insane in Rome, Italy. I never
really questioned why Italy.
Michael Schaefer: And
when did your father tell you about what really happened?
Isabella Rossi: Uh...May
23rd, 2009. I was twenty five years old. He just said it. He said,
mom attacked those people during an exorcism. An exorcism
performed on her.
[we we see more
interview footage of Dr. Victoroff and Father Aimes]
Dr. Jeff Victoroff: It's
the job if science to try and sort out what is a reasonable, plausible
explanation.
FR. Christopher Aimes: But
science can't explain everything. Such as a person levitating two feet
off the ground during an exorcism.
[as we see Isabella
driving to the airport]
Isabella Rossi: I
asked my dad if he thought she was possessed. He said he didn't know,
that she was gone and it didn't matter. Not anymore. He died a few days
later.
Isabella Rossi: I
called the church that the priests had come from and they
wouldn't
talk about it. They said they don't have an ordained exorcist, they
never did.
[on the plane to Rome]
Isabella Rossi: So
we're on our way to see the Vatican School for Exorcism and to see my
mother.
Michael Schaefer: Are
you nervous?
Isabella Rossi: Yeah,
I'm nervous. Twenty years is a long time, you know?
[as Isabella arrives at
the airport in Rome]
Isabella Rossi: So
later, I was contacted by the Diocese of Rome. He told me they never
authorized my mother's exorcism. That's when I knew I had to go to
Italy.
[November 26, 2009;
Isabella arrives at the Apostolic Academy of Rome]
Isabella Rossi: This
school draw a lot interest from all over the world. Maybe they
can help me understand my mother's situation for the better.
[at the Apostolic
Academy, Isabella walks into a classroom where a lecture is being given
about exorcisms]
Father Robert Gallo: Sometimes
a person can be tormented by more than one demon, in what we call;
multiple demonic possessions. Those cases are extremely volatile and
dangerous, and they sometimes lead to transference. Which means, the
demon jumps from one person to another.
[interview footage of
Father Gallo]
Father Robert Gallo:
The purpose of the class is to educate priests. Uh...and of course the
people about the devil's presence in the lives in modern society. For
example, in Italy alone there are over eight hundred satanic cults. We
had a problem, we needed more exorcists. If it is possession, then
first and foremost, we must rule out mental illness, schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder. The course is designed to explore all these
conditions.
[after the class of
clergymen have watched a video of a woman who appears to be
possessed]
Father David Keane:
I believe the subject was clearly possessed. The subject spoke in
multiple languages, amongst other things.
Young Clergyman:
Come on! Speaking in tongues, maybe. Incoherent babbling from a
mentally disturbed person certainly. I'm sorry, Father.
Father David Keane: And
the subject displayed abnormal strength when confronted with holy water
and while heavily sedated.
Young Clergyman: The
delusional mind of a paranoid schizophrenic may actually react to holy
water as if it were, I don't know, acid, urine...
Father Ben Rawlings:
I'm sorry. I'm gonna have to disagree. The...the girl fractured her own
femur.
Male Student #1: Her
strength might have been abnormal, but not impossible. It's very well
known that uh... some epileptics do break their bones during the
seizure, it's a fact.
Father Robert Gallo: As
I said, we must be sure to rule out mental illness. In the end this
case could not be proved as possession.
Isabella Rossi: The
diversity of the class was comforting, and it wasn't just priests or
nuns, but regular people. People who are facing the same things I'm
facing, people like me, looking to help someone.
[Isabella sits with a
group of the students from the exorcism class]
Isabella Rossi: So,
why are you here?
Male Student #1: All
this knowledge, you all agree on this, all this knowledge is invaluable
to us. No?
Isabella Rossi: David,
what would you say drew you to this school in particular, to exorcism?
Father David Keane: The
combination of science and religion. I think based on my background in
medicine, it gave me a greater sense of purpose.
Male Student #1: We
all talk so definitively about God and about the devil, but we can all
agree that there's no...no real facts, right? No...no proofs. God has
never helped me.
Isabella Rossi: So
when do you actually witness an exorcism in class?
Father Ben Rawlings: The
class...this class, it's all theory.
Isabella Rossi: This
is the school of exorcism, is it not?
Male Student #1: It's
not reality. Look at the tape we watched today. That girl fitted every
criteria for possession, except she wasn't. It's a mental disorder.
Father Ben Rawlings: No,
when you witness...when you witness, see someone possessed, you'll know
the difference.
Isabella Rossi: You
say that like you have. Have you...have you witnessed a real exorcism,
Father?
Male Student #1: Yeah.
Right after he saw uh...the Easter Bunny.
Father Ben Rawlings: I'm
uh...gonna ask you something, Isabella?
Isabella Rossi: Sure.
Father Ben Rawlings: I'm
curious. Why are you...why are you doing this documentary?
Isabella Rossi: Uh...I
will be honest. My mom, when I was about eight years old, she...she
murdered three people, uh...members of her church. I found out that she
had committed these murders during an exorcism, uh...an exorcism on her.
[as they are leaving the
bar]
Father David Keane: So
your mother must be at Centrino, right?
Isabella Rossi: Yes.
Father Ben Rawlings: Have
you seen her yet?
Isabella Rossi: Tomorrow.
Father Ben Rawlings: Okay.
Well, the uh...the class, they won't give you the answers you need. You
need to see a real one.
Isabella Rossi: How
do you know when it's real?
Father Ben Rawlings: You
don't. Good luck.
Isabella Rossi: Thanks.
[Father Ben and David
walk off]
[December 1, 2009; as
Isabella drive to Centrino to visit her mother]
Isabella Rossi: You
know, my father received a letter from Rome. I guess because
the priests were involved, the Holy Church got involved as well and
they said that they wanted to treat my mother at Centrino. They called
it uh...offering of forgivness. I remember thinking that meant God was
forgiving my mother. I was young.
[referring to Centrino
as she arrives at the hospital to visit her mother]
Isabella Rossi: It
felt like a prison, an old prison, really. But Dr. Costa seemed
concered, so that was good.
[interview with
Dr. Costa at Centrino Mental Hospital who is talking about
Maria Rossi]
Dr. Antonio Costa:
She is extraordinarily anti-religious. We refrain from religious items
and discussions at all times. They can make her hostile.
Isabella Rossi: I'm
not sure if you know this, but my mother was involved in an exorcism
while she committed those murders. Did you know that?
Dr. Antonio Costa: Um...Isabella,
your mother's case, although unique, is not a matter of demonic
possession. It's a matter of brain function
Isabella Rossi: So
why do you think she was transferred all the way from the States to
Rome?
Dr. Antonio Costa: I-I
don't know. It was before I arrived here.
[Dr. Costa takes
Isabella to her mother and ells her that her mother is prescribed a
whole regime of drugs to keep her calm]
Dr. Antonio Costa: She's
having a very good day today, but there still are rules. Don't talk
about faith or God, and stay passive. Hostility and aggression
are...well they provoke her.
[Costa turns to Isabella
before letting her into Maria's room]
Dr. Antonio Costa: Let's
be cautious, it will be fine. In fact there will be a very good chance
she won't even recognize you.
[Isabella walks into her
mother's room at Centrino, Maria is sitting at a table and just looking
ahead blankly]
Isabella Rossi: Hi,
mom. I like your drawings. I'd really like to speak with you if you let
me, please. My name is Isabella. Isabella Rossi.
[Maria just keeps
staring ahead not responding]
Isabella Rossi: I'm
your daughter. I just haven't seen you in a long time.
[Maria mutters
something repeatedly that makes no sense, Isabella takes out
the photo of her 1st birthday]
Isabella Rossi: Do
you recognize this?
Maria Rossi: Do
you know how to play cuts?
Isabella Rossi: I
don't know what that means.
[Maria shows her cuts
she has made on her arm]
Isabella Rossi: Did
you do that to yourself?
[Maria shows Isabella a
cross shaped cut on her inner lip]
Isabella Rossi: Please,
stop.
Isabella Rossi: Maria,
I came here from a really long way to see you.
Maria Rossi: Do
you wanna see my paintings?
Isabella Rossi: Yes.
I'd like that. I'd love that.
[Maria shows
her a picture of her herself, Isabella's father and Isabella
as a child]
Isabella Rossi: Yes.
Yes. Maria. Maria he was your husband, you loved him very much. Do...do
you remember?
Maria Rossi: Who
are you?
Isabella Rossi: I'm
Isabella. I'm your daughter.
Maria Rossi: I
don't have a daughter.
Isabella Rossi: Yes!
Yes, you do. We haven't seen each other in a very long time.
Maria Rossi: I
don't have a daughter.
Isabella Rossi: Mmhmm.
Maria Rossi: Do
I?
Isabella Rossi: Yeah.
Maria Rossi: Why?
Why? Why not? Well, thank you for coming. Please say hello to your
family from me. Have a nice day.
[Maria gives back the
photo Isabella had placed on the table]
Maria Rossi: Thank
you for coming. I have to go. I have to go. I have to get ready. I have
to get ready. Ree-aa-ddy!
[Maria sits
down and starts drawing and then mutters something]
Isabella Rossi: What
did you say? Maria, please, I don't have a lot of time. Please, tell me
something.
Maria Rossi: You
shouldn't have killed your child.
Isabella Rossi: What?
[Maria motions for
Isabella to come closer to her and pulls her chair closer to Isabella]
Isabella Rossi: It's
against God's will now.
[suddenly she starts
screaming and the doctor and hospital staff come into the room making
Isabella leave the room, Isabella visibly shaken runs out of
the hospital and starts crying]
Isabella Rossi: What's
it like losing both parents? Um...it feels empty. Like there's no
safety net to fall back on and it forces you to be resilient.
Possession and exorcism have dictated my life. It took my mom and
basically killed my dad. It defines me now. I mean, here I am. I flew
across, you know, half way across the world to see this woman who I
never thought I'd see again. I don't like that it defines me.
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Total
Quotes: 100
