#christopheralender

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Old Ways (2021)

Everyone else is seemingly enchanted by The Old Ways. I wish I could tell you why. The film has the beginning of an interesting horror film but fails to scare or make its comparisons between demonic possession and drug addiction anything more than amusing.

L.A. journalist Cristina (Brigitte Kali Canales) wakes up after being kidnapped in Mexico. Javi (Sal Lopez) and his elderly mother, a Nahuatl bruja named Luz (Julia Vera), claim her research into a nearby cave has permitted a demon to enter her body. None of Cristina’s pleas will dissuade them from performing the exorcism they believe must take place.

As the story progresses, we learn Cristina is addicted to heroin, that her compulsion to take the drug comes partially from her depression, itself caused by her years spent in foster care following her mother’s death during an exorcism. There’s something there. The solution to Cristina’s predicament includes being kept away from her former life, a detox using goat’s milk down her throat, her cousin Miranda (Andrea Cortés) attending to provide support, and the ritual progressing regardless of Cristina's pleas that "there's nothing wrong with her". Crack’s been called a demon drug, several of the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous include believing in God and admitting to Him your wrongs. A drug-induced episode could certainly resemble being possessed so I’m ‘there’. What is The Old Ways going to say about addiction or demonic possession beyond them resembling each other? nothing. Ultimately, the protagonist's addiction has no meaningful impact on the plot.

The Old Ways is hardly - if ever - frightening. Part of the problem comes from the opening scene, which shows us without a doubt that the whole demon thing is legit. From there, we have no reason to believe that Cristina isn’t possessed. There’s no mystery except WHICH demon is taking over her body and honestly, does it matter? Seeing the ritual take place has its moments. It’s certainly different from the usual “The power of Christ compels you!” business, which is a relief. There’s a clever reveal later on about the demon’s appearance, though its true form leaves something to be desired. It’s subjective of course but it looked rather silly to me.

The actors all do a solid job with their roles, the film is appropriately sinister during its night scenes, the scenario makes you wonder what you would do if crazed people you’d never met accused you of harboring a devil. That idea makes you sweat but there’s no follow-through. Then again, most people seem to disagree. I'd rather you dismiss my opinion than miss out on a potential favorite so feel free to follow other people’s recommendations rather than my dismissal but as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing memorable in The Old Ways. (September 5, 2021)

[radiobaixadasantista]

FALA FAMÍLIA MACABRAAAAA!!! AMANHÃ teremos mais um EPISÓDIO INÉDITO - 3 INDICAÇÕES DE NOVOS FILMES DE TERROR (RAÍZES MACABRAS / DEMONIC / A LENDA DE CANDYMAN) no YOUTUBE. NÃO SE ESQUEÇA DE SE INSCREVER NO CANAL E NO INSTAGRAM, DEIXE SEU LIKE E COMPARTILHE! EPISÓDIOS DE 2021: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbfbXh6SKI6o4Kj8nI--Tm-JVFR4FzZSz REDES SOCIAIS: Instagram: @macabrocast https://www.instagram.com/macabrocast/ Instagram: @peterterrormacabrobr https://www.instagram.com/peterterrormacabrobr/ Instagram: @andersonproenca1978 https://www.instagram.com/andersonproenca1978/ Instagram: @_josiisantoss https://www.instagram.com/_josiisantoss/ Instagram: @lokahdosfilmes https://instagram.com/lokahdosfilmes/ PARCEIROS DO CANAL: GRUPO TERROR MACABRO BRASIL: https://m.facebook.com/groups/219869895553588/ Instagram: @pipocaemusicaa https://instagram.com/pipocaemusicaa/ Instagram: @_aterrorizadas https://www.instagram.com/_aterrorizadas Instagram: @buhbrunaterror https://www.instagram.com/buhbrunaterror/ Instagram: @kami.morais https://www.instagram.com/kami.morais/ Instagram: @darkbooks021 https://www.instagram.com/darkbooks021/ Instagram: @horrorcolab https://www.instagram.com/horrorcolab/ #FILMES #CINEMA #NETLIX #RAÍZESMACABRAS #THEOLDWAYS #CHRISTOPHERALENDER #DEMONIC #NEILLBLOMKAMP #ALENDADECANDYMAN #CANDYMAN #NIADACOSTA #MACABROCAST #PODCAST #TERROR #MACABRO #BRASIL #PODCASTBRASIL #PODCASTBR #PODCASTTERROR #CORTESPODCAST #SUSPENSE #SOBRENATURAL #LENDASURBANAS #CASOS #MISTERIOSO #ASSOMBRADO #HISTORIASDETERROR #ASSUSTADORES #HORRORCOLAB (em Radio Baixada Santista) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTVf5PbJvQM/?utm_medium=tumblr