Prey for the Devil  ★★½

THE most interesting aspect of the horror film Prey for the Devil doesn’t really have much to do with horror.

The film is set largely at a training school for exorcists which also maintains a hospital for the criminally insane, conveniently providing a ready supply of tortured souls upon whom they can practice their trade.

Sister Ann is a nurse at the hospital but is not allowed to train as an exorcist because the Catholic Church insists that only male priests should perform the ritual.

Why I’m not entirely sure – or can’t recall the explanation -but the Church is forced to bend its rule when Sister Ann displays an apparent ‘talent’ for connecting with some of the possessed.

Her approach, for better or worse, is to still keep trying to communicate with the possessed person, as opposed to the common practice of just focusing on the demonic force you are trying to banish.

This also leads to a few interesting discussions but, apart from one or two jump scares, the rest of the film provides mostly familiar stuff.

Jacqueline Byers is okay in the lead role but the acting honours probably go to Colin Salmon as the lead trainer, Father Quinn.

Director Daniel Stamm also made The Last Exorcism (2010) which I don’t think I’ve seen but gather it’s more frightening than this latest effort.

Watched on Apple