There's two things you can count on if you're a director, whether big time or small, and that is - If you're in need of an actor to play the detective in your film, and your first choice (Michael Paré) is currently busy, you can always turn to your second option - Frank Grillo.
'Demonic' is exactly what I feared, which is why I avoided it for so long, but I figured since I struggled through 'The Vatican Tapes,' I can handle anything. Again, I am not a fan of possession flicks, at all. 'Demonic' manages to throw in just about everything I dislike about these films, with a ridiculous twist, that you can see coming from a mile away. The cast is below average - Maria Bello seems disinterested at every turn, and Frank Grillo struggles with his lines, as usual. Seriously, does this guy ever prepare for any role? You can tolerate him in 'Captain America 2: Winter Soldier,' because they can disguise how limited, and useless he really is. Did anyone REALLY notice the guy was even in that awesome film? Of course not.
The plot is the real killer here, though. It starts off as the usual haunted house, then turns into an 80 minute interrogation of a possessed kid who really isn't even there. But you can't really tell how unusual this sort of shocking reveal is, since Frank Grillo's facial expressions never change. He either looks constipated, or clueless. That's pretty much all you get from Frank. As for Maria? Well, she just wants her paycheck. The entire plot, the kill scene with the walkie-talkie, along with the twist, all of it together, just makes the film so laughably bad, you'll think you walked into another horror comedy directed by Eli Roth.
Random Ramblings of a Madman: Personally, I think if the coin had landed on Michael Paré, 'Demonic' would have been, well, awful, but his lack of emotion, and disinterest just seems more professional than Frank Grillo. Maybe it's just me?
