The Demon Disorder: Review
By Nitsi Penaherrera
When a brother comes calling, do you answer? Graham and Jake meet again after being estranged, played by the amusing Christian Willis (Home and Away) and Dirk Hunter (A Royal in Paradise). The brotherly dysfunctional counterparts find a problem that by working together, can attempt to be fixed. While this story gives an odd ultimatum to assist with an unforeseen circumstance with their deceased father who is quite unrest, the brothers do not collide as well in the beginning. The film is slow to start with a few characters embarking on the main cause of why the brothers must come back together after being distanced.
Shudder’s newest thriller, The Demon Disorder, debuts Steven Boyle seated in the director’s chair and offers a feel of horror that is not encountered. It cuts deep as the family collides after being estranged. Now, its proven that to save their brother, Phillip Reilly (Charles Cottier) from their father’s possession, being a family is a key factor to obtaining the best result. While neither of them can agree on much except that their brother is possessed. The movie has impressive twists here and there, which displays a new way of thinking about the horror genre. Questions do linger in the atmosphere, leaving uncertainty of how the current situation came to arise, and what can add to finding a closure.
With dynamite supporting actors like John Noble and Tobie Webster bring a point of view from outsiders dealing with the makings of what the two brothers are going through. While parts of the shorter horror film can be crucial building blocks, a few seemed a bit unnecessary to the storyline. Although, it did not make it weak or take away from the centrefold. It was structured enough to discover stronger parts of the film. Nevertheless, The Demon Disorder had an adequate footing on the story and the journey of the characters. Boyle's creation is empowered and builds a stronger foundation for the elephant in the room issue. Since the cast is such a small ensemble, the movie does flow but still lacks the suspense we search for at times for horror flicks. With a few moments that were wonderfully displayed the actors' emotion and critical thinking as anyone would do during a terror in their backyard. Although, some were already an easy guess. While following through with the plot intensely, there continue to be moments that benefit the film.
The VFX artist department demonstrates the stamp of Steven Boyle's infamous career in VFX and makeup with the gruesome gore exhibits that outlines major parts of the film. It combines and presses concentration to experience the horrors each character encounters.
With any horror film, there is a line that sometimes is crossed or not reached in the genre, but The Demon Disorder will fascinate and make you second guess the motives while also trying to understand the embodiment of the core of why's. Boyle's directorial debut gives an insight into who he is as a master of horror, and why this film deserved to be an official selection at the Gold Coast Film Festival.