"The Ominous Project Universe Presents: The Devils Within" - Movie Review

Shreco Bakari's new film, The Devils Within, expands the Ominous Project Universe. Now, not only does it contain serial killers and zombies, it contains demons and exorcisms. Each film ups the ante from the last and not a single one has disappointed yet.

The film follows Dawn, a man who has become desperate to find help for his husband Shannon, a mental institute patient. Dawn and his friend Roland meet up with a doctor in order to break Shannon out and take him to someone who, Dawn was told, could help. What Dawn discovers is more horrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Huge applause to Shreco Bakari's performance as the possessed Shannon. He absolutely sold me on the character of Shannon. The last half of the film actually had me believing that this was real and this poor man really needed help. The transitions from loving husband to using his demonic voice was outstanding. It was chilling and frightening and far surpassed any horrors that I've seen lately.

This film confirms what I've suspected, and even hoped, since I saw the first Ominous Project film: Shreco Bakari is well on his way to becoming the Stephen King of film. What he has accomplished with this film alone is leagues beyond 90% of exorcism films. In fact, there's five levels when it comes to exorcism films: The Exorcist, The Conjuring Universe, Shreco Bakari's The Devils Within, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and everything else.

What I love about Bakari's Ominous universe is that it's not one single component retold each time. For instance, the Conjuring universe deals with demons in every film in one way or another. In the Ominous universe, you have a maniacal serial killer, a zombie infestation, and now demonic possession. Each film, aside from the direct sequel Macabre File, deals with something new rather than rehashing the same element. That, I believe, is what makes Bakari's films so compelling. Even if you think you know what to expect, you don't. His films have never failed to chill me to the bone and keep me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought the horror genre was becoming stale and slowly falling by the wayside, along comes Shreco Bakari to shake it up and breathe new life into it.

The only issue I had with the film was the beginning found-footage segment. I felt that there really was no need for the characters to be filming until the Priestess told them to capture the demons and exorcism on film. That's just me, others may think differently. Either way, Shreco has earned my respect and this loyal fan gives The Devils Within a 3.5 out of 4.