As a self-confessed wimp, the prospect of seeing Deliver us from Evil was daunting, writes Leni Ma'ia'i.
Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn
Rating: (R16)
One stars (out of five)
But I needn't have worried.
Scott Derickson's film had all of the kick of a legless horse.
The film follows hard-nosed cop Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) through the streets of New York with his adrenaline-junkie partner Butler (Joel McHale).
Sarchie begins to uncover a series of crimes with his supposed ''radar'', as Butler calls it.
The crimes are all creepily demonic, and the only thing keeping them from seeming utterly ridiculous is that the film is loosely based on true events.
Unfortunately, Sarchie has his priorities all wrong, as his passion for the job means his wife (Olivia Munn) and daughter sit neglected at home.
A completely unconvincing conflict rages inside Sarchie, culminating in him reaching out to chain-smoking priest Joe Mondeza (Edgar Ramirez) to help him come to terms with his inner ''demons'' (literally).
Expat Santino (Sean Harris) is ravaging the city, by possessing people, and Sarchie, his radar, and Mondeza are the only ones that can save us.
As you might expect, the ''real-life'' film finishes with a 20-minute exorcism that has you on the edge of your seat, waiting to leave.
Annoyingly obvious sound cues ruin any chance this film has of being scary.
Every time anything vaguely fear-inducing is about to happen it is flagged by obnoxious screeches.
Like many films of the horror genre, the dialogue is dripping with cheesy clichés, which a general lack of scariness fails to carry.
Best thing: Bana's amusingly over-compensated New York accent.
Worst thing: The painfully unfunny attempts at comic relief.
See it with: A lover of bad horror flicks.
