‘Sorry About the Demon’ Serves Up More Chuckles Than Chills [Review]
You can tell a lot about Sorry About the Demon based on its title alone. The moniker effectively hints at the whimsical tone and the offhanded way in which the horrors within are presented. It tells prospective viewers that this is going to be an irreverent take on the demonic possession subgenre. Everything in this flick is done with tongue firmly planted in cheek. The picture doesn’t contain a lot of super scary moments. But it’s hard to criticize it too harshly for being light on gore and frights when even the film’s title suggests this is more of a comedic romp than an exercise in terror. However, it could have struck a more appealing balance.
Sorry About the Demon sees a family of four knowingly renting their haunted house to Will (Jon Michael Simpson), an unsuspecting type with a heart of gold and a lack of focus. Newly single, Will can’t believe what a great deal he’s getting on the home. But, he soon comes to realize his new landlords forgot to disclose one thing: A demon lives on the premises and is searching for a human host.
Also Read: The Top 10 Deadly Demonic Dangers in Horror
It’s very possible for a film to lean more into comedy than horror and still be successful. And I think Sorry About the Demon is successful, to an extent. But I am of the mind that the aforementioned strategy works best when the gags are paired with a certain level of tension or a bit of foreboding atmosphere to make up for the lack of outright scares. There isn’t really any such compensation here. As such, I had a good time with the jokes and the colorful characters depicted within. But it wasn’t a home run for me. Even though the comedy is often really well-executed, the film would have worked better if it had struck a more equitable balance between chuckles and chills.
The other chief complaint I have is that Sorry About the Demon is a little on the long side at 105 minutes. And it meanders a bit. If the picture had been trimmed down to a leaner runtime, the pacing likely wouldn’t have felt as up and down. As it stands, the film feels a bit like its premise is stretched too thin. The beginning works fairly well and the ending is satisfying enough. But the second act slows down the proceedings.
Criticisms aside, I think Emily Hagins shows great promise as a writer and director. She shows an aptitude for scripting comedy and manages to successfully bring it from the page to the screen in a palatable fashion.
Also Read: ‘Talk to Me’ Delivers Shocking, Mean-Spirited Terror
Will, the central protagonist is smartly written and brought to life with aplomb by Jon Michael Simpson. Simpson plays Will as a lovable goof who is almost impossible not to warm to. Anyone that’s ever felt uncertain where they belong is likely to relate to his quirky character traits.
I found Will’s perpetual optimism to be charming, even if it reaches the point of being a bit delusional. For instance, after moving into his new home, the demon haunting the premises leaves Will a cake with the inscription: ‘I will have your soul’ written on the top. Rather than taking it as a bad omen and a sure sign the house is haunted, Will immediately assumes it must be a message from his ex, saying she wants to get back together. Can’t blame the guy for holding out hope, I guess…
All in, I found Sorry About the Demon to be worth seeking out. It serves as an entertaining romantic comedy laced with macabre elements. And while I wish the film had leaned more heavily into horror, it’s still good for a laugh and features a rather likable lead that makes up for some of what doesn’t quite work.
If you’re curious to check out Sorry About the Demon for yourself, you can give it a look on Shudder now!
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Sorry About the Demon
Summary
This horror comedy drags in the middle and skimps on scares. But the humor and a likable lead make it worth a look.
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