Plot: A nun becomes a target for a demon who is connected to her past.
The world may have grappled with deadly diseases and violent criminals that cause the death of thousands, but the one thing we didn't have to concern ourselves with was demon possessions.
As Prey for the Devil shows us demon possessions are on the rise and become akin to a global pandemic.
Great, just what we need.
However, it is an interesting concept, although there had to be something political going on regarding gender bias.
As the opening card suggests, a lot of priests are being trained all over the world to combat demonic possessions. However, women are still not allowed to learn how to exorcise demons. No explanation is given as to why.
And so, of course, our heroine has to not only battle demons but also the system just so she can become an exorcist too.
Prey for the Devil has an interesting story and highlights the struggles for Ann well, but loses its steam somewhere in the middle. Somehow, it becomes important to show that Ann is right. She's always right, and everyone needs to support her.
And because of that it was difficult at time to be sympathetic towards Ann.
Apart from that, the tired old formula of exorcist movies is given a slight twist with a unique scene where the demon tries to make the victim swallow their own hair and choke.
It seems the filmmakers also thought this was a great scene and used a still as a poster for the movie.
PREY FOR THE DEVIL Plot
A little girl is in her bedroom, praying at her bed. Outside, her mother knocks on the door and asks her to open it. The little girl ignores her.
Is she being a brat? Nope. Turns out, a little while later, the woman begins to bang her head rapidly against the door. Uh oh...
She's clearly possessed or something so thankfully the girl didn't open the door.
Some years pass and the little girl is all grown up. We learn her name is Ann.
She is a nun at a school in Boston where exorcisms are taught. Ann is more like a nurse than anything and roams about wards helping patients.
Eventually she comes to see a little girl who is being treated by a stern doctor. The girl is Natalie and she immediately tells Ann she is her favorite person here.
Ann is on cloud nine after the compliment and then enters a lecture hall where Father Quinn is teaching priests about exorcisms.
Father Quinn doesn't seem to mind. Ann exchanges a look with two young priests Dante and Raymond. While Dante seems supportive of her being here, Raymond gives her more of an annoyed look but Ann winks and makes it look like its okay to do whatever.
Later, she returns to her duties and as she is washing a patient, he suddenly speaks in a different manner and says something that reminds Ann of her mother. He then goes after her but Ann luckily escapes.
Since there are cameras everywhere, Ann is brought to Dr Peters who tells her she knows about her sneaking into exorcism classes. Father Quinn says he doesn't mind. He's more curious to know about the demon possessing the man who seemed to know Ann.
Father Quinn thinks it is a good idea to train Ann since the demon may come after her again.
In the next class, Father Quinn takes them to see a patient who was recently moved because there were signs of demon possession. Ann is shocked to see it is Natalie.
Since we were introduced to only two priests in the whole class, Father Quinn chooses Dante and Raymond to accompany him inside.
Ann notices that despite the two way glass, Natalie seems to detect her presence. The exorcism begins and obviously it isn't working properly. Ann barges in and manages to talk to Natalie. Her reasoning, as she explains later too, is that it is a good idea to develop a personal relationship with the victim and talk to them instead of the demon.
Since demons hate to be ignored, they either leave or retreat. It works in this case but Father Quinn reminds her that she didn't exorcise the demon and it would no doubt return. The movie isn't nearing its end. There's a lot more drama that is going to come.
Unfortunately the drama bits are a little tepid.
Ann, Dante, and Raymond are in their normal clothes and cheering for Ann who saved the day.
But the next day, Father Quinn informs everyone that Natalie is still possessed and since his attempt at exorcism failed, he would have to transfer her.
Ann is horrified and conducts a research to find out how the other patients have fared after the transfer. Turns out all of them died except for one who was heavily scarred.
Later, Dante comes to her with his sad story about his sister who was raped and then had to abort her baby. He believes she is now possessed although no one seems to believe it.
Natalie, who has her own story about giving birth to a baby and having to abandon it, decides to help him.
She goes to see the sister who writhes and talks in a foreign language. Ann talks directly to the sister, pointing out that the demon is feeding on her guilt and pain for aborting the baby.
She manages to break through to her and the demon leaves.
Ann thinks she has successfully performed an exorcism.
The next day she is called to the "principals" office and admonished for performing an unauthorized exorcism. She is then told that Dante's sister committed suicide.
Ann is horrified and asks to be transferred into the monastery.
She is spending her time there when Dante comes to visit her and tells her that during the transfer, Natalie killed everyone in the ambulance and her help is required to exorcise the demon.
Ann is unsure but then Dante gives her a necklace that Natalie had and Ann recognizes it as the one she gave to her baby before giving her away.
So Natalie is Ann's daughter!
PREY FOR THE DEVIL Ending Explained with Spoilers
In the catacombs, there is a fierce battle with the demon which ends with Father Quinn being knocked out, and Raymond being killed.
Ann asks the demon to take her since he wants her in the first place. The demon had even possessed a patient before and danced with Ann. He clearly wants her and so agrees to leave Natalie and possess her.
Possessed Ann chases Dante and Natalie through the catacombs. Dante is easily knocked over. It is up to Natalie to do something.
As Possessed Ann comes for her, Natalie hides near a fountain of holy water. Ann tries to stop the demon inside her from killing Natalie. She succeeds in a few minutes and the holy water helps exorcise the demon.
She is now demon-free and gets back to Dante who finally came to, and Natalie.
At the hospital, Ann says goodbye to Natalie who goes to her adopted mother. Ann doesn't tell her she's her real mother.
Later, she is lauded by everyone for battling a demon, something that an experienced man like Father Quinn also couldn't accomplish. In fact, we don't get to see Father Quinn exorcise any demons successfully.
It is Ann's show all the way.
It's good to see Ann's struggle in breaking the "glass ceiling" but were none of the men able to battle demons or at least help?
Father Quinn, Raymond and Dante couldn't help Natalie and Ann had to drop in to talk to her. And then both Father Quinn and Dante were a no show during the final battle. Poor Raymond was killed.
Anyway, Ann heads out to an airport and Father Quinn's warning plays out. Now that she has defeated a demon, the other demons will be on the lookout.
Ann didn't check her cab before sitting in it and is immediately attacked by the driver.
But of course, Ann is ready for him.
The movie ends. Finally.
Prey for the Devil would have been an interesting movie had it not been for the scenes where Ann, who has little experience, is glorified more than those who were experienced.
It did have an interesting take on exorcisms which would have worked effectively if it hadn't gone too political.
SCARE SCALE: 2.5/5
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