Prey for the Devil

Prey for the Devil

In response to a global rise in demonic possessions, the Catholic Church reopens exorcism schools to train priests in the Rite of Exorcism. On this spiritual battlefield, an unlikely warrior rises: a young nun, Sister Ann. Thrust onto the spiritual frontline with fellow student Father Dante, Sister Ann finds herself in a battle for the soul of a young girl and soon realizes the Devil has her right where he wants her.

  • Released: 2022-10-28
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Horror, Thrillers
  • Stars: Jacqueline Byers, Virginia Madsen, Ben Cross, Colin Salmon, Christian Navarro, Nicholas Ralph, Lisa Palfrey, Tom Forbes, Velizar Binev, Owen Davis, Debora Zhecheva, Cora Kirk, Posy Taylor, Elizabeth Gibson
  • Director: Daniel Stamm
 Comments
  • jboothmillard - 28 March 2024
    Prey for the Devil
    I remember seeing the trailer for this scary movie, I recognised the leading male actor, and I thought it had a clever title, I chose to ignore any negative reviews it was getting and to make my own mind up, directed by Daniel Stamm (The Last Exorcism). Basically, due to a rise in demonic possessions around the world, the Catholic Church reopens exorcism schools outside of Rome to train priests in the Rite of Exorcism. Although nuns are forbidden to perform exorcisms, at St. Michael the Archangel School of Exorcism in Boston, Father Quinn (Colin Salmon) sees that Sister Ann (Jacqueline Byers) has a gift. He recognises she is empathetic with possessed victims of demons and agrees to train her. Along with fellow student Father Dante (Christian Navarro), they are thrust onto the spiritual frontline. Beneath the school is a facility holding several victims of possession, including many children. One such victim is a young girl named Natalie (introducing Posy Taylor), and Ann joins the battle to exorcise the evil spirit. Through the encounters with the possessed Natalie however, the demon may be the same evil spirit that possessed and tormented Ann's mentally unstable mother (Koyna Ruseva) years ago. There is resistance from staff members, including leading psychotherapist Dr. Peters (Candyman's Virginia Madsen), as Ann attends classes, while the priests find it amusing. Frightening events begin to happen to her, such as disturbing visions and memories. One day, whilst bathing an elderly patient, Clark (Keith Bartlett), he is momentarily possessed and harasses her, trapping her in the room and dancing with her against her will. Terrified, she attacks the old man, just as he is returned to his regular form, and he is frightened. But Sister Ann persists in her quest, delving into secret archives with the help of Father Dante. She finds several historical "terminal cases" and evidence of many patients being sent to the Vatican and dying. But she finds the name of one woman who survived demonic possession, recovering before she could be sent to the Vatican, and was released from the institute. Ann helps exorcise Dante's troubled sister, Emilia (Cora Kirk), which is apparently successful. However, the next morning, the school's leadership and Cardinal Matthews (Ben Cross, in his final film) tell her that Dante's sister killed herself. Ann unhappily concludes that, in response to the tragedy, she should go back to her old convent. However, Father Dante visits her, telling her that Natalie, who had recovered and left the school, has had a relapse, and may be sent to the Vatican as a "terminal case". He convinces her to sneak into the school with him and exorcise Natalie. Ann is shocked to find out that Natalie is in fact her daughter, she was given up for adoption years ago; she was pregnant as a teenager while her mother was being abusive. The anguish of abandonment has made Natalie subject to demonic possession. Eventually, the demon leaves Natalie but possesses Ann, who falls into a large pool of holy water. She fights through the anguish of her troubled history and eventually frees herself from the demon. The school's leadership reward her with an academic fellowship to the Vatican. However, while in a taxi, Ann finds that the driver is Clark who had harassed her under demonic influence. The taxi stops in the street, and a sinister-looking woman, the one released from the institute, stares at her from the street. Sister Ann grabs her crucifix as the driver snarls and lunges at her. Also starring Lisa Palfrey as Sister Euphemia, Nicholas Ralph as Father Raymond, Debora Zhecheva as Young Ann, Elizabeth Gibson as Sister Kylie, and Velizar Binev as Father Bernhard. Byers is alright, Salmon is always reliable, and Madsen is reasonable as the head of the school. The film might have some memorable images, including hair being sucked down throats and the old man with white eyes and a long tongue, but the exorcism sequences are predictable, the story is rather familiar but not terrible, it is only mildly tense when it needs to be but otherwise it is a little dull and unscary, I've seen better, a disappointing but not completely dismal psychological horror. Adequate!
  • jasonpauljones-64690 - 23 October 2023
    Byers makes it work
    Putting aside the convoluted heraldry of the catholic church, for that is a subject for a different forum, except to say, God is not their friend, Prey for the Devil has got some things that did appeal to me.

    A nun, caring for sick patients in a nursing kind of role, becomes attached to a particular girl, who appears to have been possessed by a demon. Jacqueline Byers plays sister Ann in a way that for me, reflects a very believably caring and warm person. Her relationship with the said possessed girl, Natalie (Posy Taylor) is strongly portrayed and it's what makes this movie worth watching.

    The young girl continues to have serious trouble from her condition, as it becomes clear that she is indeed under the devil's control and sister Ann is confronted with demons of her own, stemming from her past, as she tries desperately to help Natalie in the present.

    What unfolds is a heartfelt battle to overcome their demons, which can be looked at as a metaphor of what people struggle with through their lives. It's an odd way to express this, using the catholic church as the backdrop, but if you can ignore that then the greater underlying message will come through.

    The ending I didn't much like but there are some good things to take away from this movie, as the effort put in is noted and there are a few scary pieces as well.
  • Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews - 13 July 2023
    The prey praying for prey
    I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It was quite a bit better than I thought it was going to be. Now, was it basically just another one of your run of the mill excersism movies? Yes, however it had some cool effects, spooky atmosphere, feminist undertones, good picture/sound design, engaging pacing and some great acting. The acting across the board was fine but I really enjoyed the main actress. I thought she did a really great job with a down to earth and nuanced performance and I would love to see her in other things.

    I think the production as a whole would have greatly benefited from a sprinkle of originality within the story. There was a light twist towards the end but it was a little bit of a light eye roll at the execution of it. The ending also felt a bit like they didn't know what to do with it... so they just did that. Otherwise I think this was generally entertaining and successful. 6.5 rounding down to a 6, would recommend.

    IG - howlingatthemoonreviews.
  • antonisfotis - 28 December 2022
    Best Exorcism thriller of the decade.
    Well, it surely does not deserve the bad reviews. Actors do quite a decent job, jump scares really deliver, special effects are above average and although the script is more or less what you except from such a movie, it does make your heart beat.

    If you really think it's a boring horror movie or worst for 2022, then you haven't watch SMILE, THE BARBARIAN or PEARL yet...:) It's an exorcism thriller and it's super enjoyable to watch. It's a great movie of its kind. I love thrillers and horror films of every kind (religious stuff is my thing though) and I assure you, have I watched every decent horror film for 2022, this is probably the best one.

    Have fun.
  • kjjames81 - 19 December 2022
    Okay for a rainy night
    After having read the good and bad reviews of this movie I decided to watch it without watching any trailers, which I think is better as lately for most films the trailers give most of the plot and best scenes of movies away.

    So I am really torn with this movie as it had its really good points and some really bad points.

    For instance some bad points, the first one was the twist in the middle of the film, I saw it coming off a mile away and it kind of spoilt it for me, the second disappointing thing was the ending, I could have written a better ending on a scrap piece of paper, why can't script writers make better endings of movies.

    The overall movie was good and it is worth a watch but only once.

    I must admit this year has been one of the most disappointing years for horror films, let's hope next year will be better.
  • therealjaysmoke - 16 December 2022
    I didn't want it to end
    It's been a minute since I've actually enjoyed an exorcism movie. I loved alot of things about this movie. I loved the pace, the tone, the acting was great, the special FX was also equally great. I guess some thing's wouldn't make sense but since they trying to push an agenda, we will just let it slide. Like how the student priests are allowed to perform test exorcism on subjects? On how a new and 'female' student is allowed to even be in an exorcism exercise to begin with. Like how they trying to perform an exorcism without using prayer or the scriptures. But all that is forgiveable because the picture was great and like I said before, the acting was on point. We'll talk just take it as a fictional piece.

    I believe there's going to be a sequel and I can't wait for it. Could this replace The Conjuring? Only time will tell.
  • bumbray99 - 7 December 2022
    "A FLICK FOR HORROR FANS".......
    If you are NOT a fan of horror "don't waste your time", HOWEVER If you are a TRUE horror fan then this flick "Pray for the Devil" is easily a 10 yes it's that intense, the fact that a woman {Nun} is preparing to go toe to toe with the devil himself is very clever and highly interesting within itself, most horror films have shown you how the DEVIL possess helpless females but not this time, and yes this movie can be predicted at certain times, we all know it's just Hollywood storytelling, it's definitely not something you would normally do in real life...I'm not going to spoil this movie for those who haven't seen it yet but I promise you bye all means if you truly love horror movies on this level, you'll be glad that you ignored the hate from critics who aren't even horror fans... PEACE Y'ALL!
  • neil-476 - 19 November 2022
    Not bad
    Sister Ann's mother abused her because she was possessed by a demon, she believes. As an adult, Sister Ann is granted entry to the Boston School of Exorcism even though nuns aren't allowed to conduct exorcisms because catholicism. One case involves a young girl who Ann bonds with, but all is not quite as it seems.

    This film, also known as The Devil's Light, is an exorcism-based horror story, and it's decent enough. The story is fine and has a couple of twists. There are some good effects, albeit not over-horror-y (recently rewatched The Exorcist, and the effects here are lightyears better). There several jumpscares. And the performances are all good.

    I see some low scores for this movie: i don't think they are entirely deserved.
  • Swizords - 6 November 2022
    It was good, kept me waiting for the next scene.
    First, I have to say that I am not the best review writer. What I can say about this movie is that it kept me entertained and engaged from start to finish. It by no means had the best back story but it was enough to let you know a little more about the person you are watching. I've also never been one to delve into artist expression sides. If I am entertained and am not thinking about other things while I watch a movie then keeping my attention is a solid feat in itself. All I can say if you like these sort of movies and aren't expecting epic blockbuster results, then you will find this one entertaining.