I thought of an interesting choice for tonight; the 2023 movie \u201cNefarious.\u201d\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t watched the movie since it came out last year.\u00a0 I had forgotten how good it is.\u00a0 The malevolence and twitchiness of the Nefarious character and the step-by-step demolition of the psychiatrist\u2019s composure and then his mental balance is fascinating to watch.\u00a0 The creative team (including the actors) crafted an intricate little machine that advances the plot one ratchet tooth at a time and then brings us to the electrocution room in the penultimate scene.<\/p>\n
And the electrocution of the demon\u2019s host provides all the horror that is needed for a Halloween movie.\u00a0 They even have to \u201cfry\u201d him twice for good measure.\u00a0 And even though this film was made by a \u201cChristian\u201d production studio and has a clear message concerning the reality of evil in the world, that messaging does not overpower the dramatic balance.\u00a0 The story works as a story for any audience.\u00a0 I guess for non-believers they\u2019ll just have to chalk up the strange events to psychological phenomena, such as multiple personality syndrome and autosuggestion.<\/p>\n
Comparing this movie to other films I think the confrontation with Nefarious is somewhat akin to Agent Starling interacting with Hannibal Lector in \u201cSilence of the Lambs.\u201d\u00a0 Of course, not exactly because there was a certain sympathy that Lector felt for Starling.\u00a0 Whereas Nefarious is wholly bent on the destruction of everyone around him including the psychiatrist.\u00a0 But there is the same sense that a malevolent genius is toying with his jailors.<\/p>\n
And the other comparison that this movie conjures up in my mind is C. S. Lewis\u2019s \u201cThe Screwtape Letters.\u201d\u00a0 In both works you get to see the demon\u2019s point of view.\u00a0 Nefarious at a certain point has to prove to the psychiatrist that there is a logic to the whole idea of demonic possession.\u00a0 He has to explain how it\u2019s done and how it advances the goals of Nefarious\u2019 master.\u00a0 And from what I can tell I think he used pretty orthodox doctrine on how and why Satan carries out his war against Heaven and mankind.<\/p>\n
So, all in all I think I made a pretty good choice for tonight\u2019s movie.\u00a0 Of course, whether I watch the movie for Halloween or Easter is a matter of mood.\u00a0 After all, you really can\u2019t consider Hell without contrasting it with the establishment run by the power whom Nefarious calls \u201cthe Enemy.\u201d\u00a0 But even for atheists I think Nefarious is a pretty good choice for this time of year.\u00a0 And to round off this post I\u2019d like to say that all of the actors in this little teleplay acquitted themselves very ably.\u00a0 But the actor who portrayed Nefarious was especially good.\u00a0 If they gave Academy Award nominations to actors in movies made by Christian production companies then he would have deserved one for the performance he gave.\u00a0 And the actors who played the psychiatrist and the warden were also top notch.<\/p>\n
Well, if you\u2019re looking for a good scary movie, I highly recommend Nefarious.\u00a0 Give the devil his due.<\/p>\n