The Demon Disorder

I was expecting a much cheaper and worse movie if I'm being honest, so you could say I was a bit surprised. The effects were genuinely great, unfortunately they were in service of nothing. The nasty "we must stretch this 10 minute idea to feature length" disorder is the main culprit. Stuff happens at a regular basis, don't get me wrong but it just feels like everyone's stomping in place pretending they're going somewhere. The dialogue especially feels like the actors were told the general idea behind a scene and ordered to improv, so they end up repeating the same thing over and over with minimal variation. Very little about the plot and character motivations makes sense. I think the movie tried to crowbar in a "blood oath" explanation, but at a certain point... just go to a hospital.

As most reviews have acknowledged, the best thing about this film is the practical FX. The family drama doesn't resonate as strongly as it could but it does build throughout the runtime. The father figure is sympathetic and a poignant "team-effort" moment at the end of the film lands surprisingly well. I didn't think they would but the characters won me over in the end, despite their flaws. The pace is a little slow but things go hard enough in the last 20minutes to be worth the build up. Not only are the practical FX well produced but the way they are revealed to the audience, first in close-up, then in low light, before being shown in full glory is just fantastic. Recommended for fans of When Evil Lurks (2023), Almost Human (2013) and Altered (2006).

I recently watched the Australian film 🇦🇺 The Demon Disorder (2024) on Shudder. The story follows a family that reunites after their father passes away. As old tensions resurface, they uncover unsettling secrets-specifically, their father's bizarre activities that may have opened a literal gateway to hell in the garage. As demons escape and begin attacking, the family must band together to stop them and possibly save the world. Directed by Steven Boyle in his directorial debut, the film stars Charles Cottier (Home and Away), Dirk Hunter (Rain Fall), Amy Ingram (In Our Blood), and John Noble (The Lord of the Rings). This is one of those horror movies where the beginning and end far outshine the middle. The film's settings, lighting, and cinematography are top-notch, and the acting and dialogue feel grounded and believable. The opening sequence involving a cow was fantastic, and the demon "birthing" scene is the film's standout moment. The last twenty minutes brought to mind a mix of Pumpkinhead and Aliens, with well-executed costumes, makeup, and some enjoyable gore for horror fans. In conclusion, The Demon Disorder has is far from perfect but has enough solid moments to satisfy horror enthusiasts. I'd give it a 5.5-6/10 and recommend it with tempered expectations.

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While not sporting the best story, the most creative dialogue, or the most logical character development, one thing that gives a HUGE bonus to this movie, is its use of practical special effects. Sure CGI is used. But unlike SO MANY movies that pander to the big screen or the lowest common denominator, it's not used as a crutch. It's not particularly unique, or scary, but it's fun and interesting. Also, there are a few subtle comedic moments that sort of break the ice without breaking the flow. It's a decent movie. They went kinda weird and cheap CGI at the end, but it's still a pretty good flick. Almost like if you crossed "Four Brothers" with "When Evil Lurks" and "Isolation" (2005).

The practical effects are outstanding in this grimy Australian horror with echoes of 'Relic' and 'The Taking of Deborah Logan' in the premise of dementia and Alzheimers Disease being a springboard of demonic possession. The acting is top notch by the cast and they all seem like brothers going through this hell. The ending is rather abrupt and doesn't really pay off but its refreshing to see the blood and gore well used and, from what I could tell, not much CGI effects used. Kudos to the budget which was sparse but got across the dirtiest living conditions on this farm. I predict these filmmakers have a bright future in this genre.

Sparse, confusing plot. Thoroughly unlikable cast for the most part. Dreary and derivative to the extreme. The most of the creature effects seemed like they were practical and well-made. I also thought the one garage employee was a perfectly serviceable character. Haha, serviceable...get it? Get it!? But the three brothers and whatever they were doing on screen just wasn't my bag. And if the "disorder" of the title was supposed to be some metaphor of an affliction of ageing, that didn't work at all in the slightest one bit remotely to any extent by any means. I don't even think knowing what was going on would make the film enjoyable. Nor does it need a sequel.