I recently had the opportunity to see the film I see the Demon at the FilmQuest Film Festival, and it’s one of those films that silently crawls under your skin before ripping it open in the final act.
It’s a slow-burn horror experience with a sci-fi twist, and what starts as a simple paranoid thriller slowly transforms into a dark and disturbing character study that explores the fragility of memory, trust, and sanity.
The film, directed by Jacob Lee Johnsonopens with Alexis Zollicoffer’s character, Lucy, spotting something strange in the sky before returning home to a surprise birthday party surrounded by her closest friends.
Everything seems fine, until he realizes he doesn’t remember anything about his day. From there, things spiral fast. Her friends keep reassuring her that everything is fine, that she’s just tired, that she should relax and enjoy the party.
But when grotesque, disturbing creatures and other strange things begin to appear, seen only by Lucy, you quickly realize that nothing about that night is what it seems.
What I liked I see the Demon this is how he plays with perception. The story is not about ghosts or demonic possession. Instead, Johnson creates an intimate psychological thriller, with sci-fi overtones, that examines how memories can betray us.
Early in the film, Lucy is told that a memory is not a recording but a rewriting, that every time you remember it, you reshape it. That idea becomes the emotional and narrative anchor of the film, distorting reality and forcing both Lucy and the audience to wonder what the hell is going on.
As the film progresses, time and perception begin to fracture. The party resets and the same moments repeat, only now they are more distorted, more terrifying. Each new version drags Lucy and the audience further and further into a chaotic descent into mental collapse.
It’s a fascinating and disorienting experience, full of nightmarish images and those crazy-looking creatures that seem to emerge from Lucy’s broken mind.
The pacing may seem intentional at first, but once the story takes over, things get wild. The final act is unpredictable and wild, doing things that really took me by surprise. It’s one of those endings that feels completely earned and completely unhinged.
The film unfolds in a disturbing, thought-provoking, and strangely satisfying way.
The film is the protagonist Jon Heder, Alessio Zollicoffer, Mallory Everton, Noah Kershisnik, Archelaus Crisanto, Dave Martinez, Mac Steele FosterAND Oran Stainbrook. All performances are solid.
I see the Demon it’s not a flashy horror film, it’s more down-to-earth and minimalist, atmospheric and quietly devastating. It stays with you because of the questions it raises about who we are without our memories and how far our minds will go to protect us from the truth.
For fans of slow-burn tension and psychological horror, this one is worth checking out.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
