DIABOLIC (2025)

3 stars

Lightbulb Film Distribution. Blu Ray DVD and Digital. 25th May

Apparently inspired by true events (honest it is), DIABOLIC features a fringe offshoot of the Mormon Church called the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) — polygamy, under age marriage and cult like behaviour and shrouded in secrecy with approximately 10,000 followers in North America (where else)!

It starts with scenes of a full immersion baptism in 2015. Lots of hooded people watching. There is talk of dead souls. One name is uttered as the distressed girl is dragged under the water by an unseen force.

10 years later. Elise (Elizabeth Cullen) has escaped from the clutches of this church and has a new life with her boyfriend Adam (John Kim). Memories of her past haunt her but she can’t quite remember things clearly. She also does things she doesn’t mean to, but then doesn’t recall them — like killing the neighbours dog.

Her therapist is understandably concerned as she is suppressing memories from her time in the church to protect herself. Adam is also frustrated as their sex life is impacted by her time in the FLDS. It is suggested, which doesn’t seem like the best idea, that she returns to what is left of the church compound, to confront her demons and with the hope that the healers from the FLDS, which are still there, can tackle her trauma.

Of course when she gets to the remote chapel – with Adam and her friend Gwen (Mia Challis) in tow, things don’t go quite to plan. Honestly, how did they think it would go? As she starts to unlock her memories she conjures up images of Clara (Luca Asta Sardelis), with whom she had a forbidden relationship…

This a well shot religious horror with director Daniel J. Phillips creating a sense of dread and foreboding as things start to get freaky, as an evil spirit is unleashed. The script by Phillips and Mike Harding (from a story by Harding and Ticia Madsen) explores fanaticism, and the film has strong imagery and a notable central performance by Cullen. However the ending (as they often are) is poor and it all feels inconsequential.

Steve Kirkham