Family Demons (2009) Movie Review
Written By: FZ
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Ursula Dabrowsky
Writer: Ursula Dabrowsky
Producer: Sue Brown
Date Released: March 25, 2009
Cast:
Cassandra Kane as Billie
Kerry Ann Reid as The Mother (as Kerry Reid)
Alex Rafalowicz as The Boyfriend
Tommy Darwin as The Mother’s Boyfriend
Rating = 3/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Family Demons (2009) follows the story of a teenager named Billie (Cassandra Kane) and her alcoholic mother. Her mother does not allow Billie to go outside the house, bit when the mother binges alcohol for three days, Billie is forced to leave the house in search for food. On her way back to the house, she was met up and attacked by a gang of young notorious boys, but her next door neighbor, Sean (Alex Rafalowicz) helps her escape and go back home. When Billie arrives home, her mother finds out and as punishment chains Billie to the laundry sink. Crying and screaming, Sean helps her break the chains and they both enjoy the day together. But when Billie returns, her mother is again outraged and Billie pushes her causing her mother’s head to hit the side of a table. Together, Sean and Billie help her mother to a hospital but the story does not end there. Billie is one day forced to end her mother’s life but at the cost of awakening her own demons.
Gore Factor
Family Demons (2009) has a few scenes that give the viewers the image of pain and torture. In one scene, a woman breaks a glass and threatens a girl with the sharp broken edges. In another scene, a woman defends herself and hits a woman over the head multiple times with a hammer causing blood splatter to appear hitting the wall. There are many off-screen shots such as these throughout the film.
The Grave Review
Family Demons (2009) is a film that is not easy to watch. What makes the film so intense is the fact that the plot addresses a real issue of domestic violence and abuse. As such, the film is best described as a psychological horror film. In this film, Bilie must live life at the hands of someone who was brutally abused in the past and is now paying the price for it. Of course, this is only one interpretation of the message but there are suggestions that this cycle of abuse is occurring. As such, the plots message and theme is sound.
The film creates an atmosphere whereby feeling of quiet desperation occurred within the first half of the story. The character development is nicely staged so that it draws a certain level of sympathy from the viewers. One can appreciate what the teenager is going through and why she has done what she has done.
Billie is always seen sitting at a table with an empty plate and cutlery before her waiting on her mother to arrive home with food. As she grows aware of the mental tortures, she gradually realized her life is a living hell. On top of this, she is constantly subjected to violent attacks as her mother hits the bottle or returns home drunk. This happens over and over in her span of a short life. So when Billie takes up the hammer in defense of her own life, the viewers are only too willing to cheer her on as her mother is painted as a monster preying on her daughter. But in the end, it makes one wonder who you would be feeling sorry for.
Overall, the two main characters, Cassandra Kane and Kerry Reid, carry the movie for almost the entire film, with both actresses delivering a commendable performance. It was well directed and kept its theme consistent using dark atmospheres that drive home the concepts of helplessness and desperation.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Family Demons (2009) three graves out of five graves.
Do you agree with our review? Comment below.
Yes this was a very haunting movie! You will not forget it!