Demonic

After a series of revelations and predictable twists, Carly ends up at her childhood home for a final attempt to save her mother, who has been trapped in a simulation. Inside, she finds her mother dying, having wanted to see her one last time. Carly then enters the simulation to try to rescue her, believing that love or some pure emotion is stronger than the trained exorcists and their tactics. While inside, she reunites with her mother briefly before her mom dies, and she is ejected back to the real world, leaving her alone with her mother’s body.

Carly’s search for her missing friend Martin leads her to find him chained in a hidden location, with the demon now revealed. She tries to escape but ultimately runs away from Martin, as the demon possesses a priest’s head and kills Martin. The demon then confronts Carly, claiming she will be its new host. Carly fights back, stabbing the demon priest with a holy dagger, which only kills the priest, leaving the demon free to possess her. The demon is pleased and examines the dagger, but Carly manages to momentarily regain control long enough to stab herself, forcing the demon out of her body. She survives, and the film closes with her placing flowers on her mother’s grave—symbolizing acceptance and mourning.

The ending seems to symbolize the ongoing struggle between good and evil, love and hatred, and the cycle of trauma. Carly’s victory is bittersweet; she defeats the demon but is left scarred by her experiences. Some interpret the film as a metaphor for the pandemic, with the demon representing the virus and Carly’s fight symbolizing humanity’s battle against it. The possession and sacrifices reflect the pain inflicted by the crisis, and her final act of stabbing herself may suggest a hope for overcoming suffering, although the film ultimately leaves a sense of loss and unresolved trauma. The ending, though hopeful in appearance, feels hollow and unearned, emphasizing the film’s overall message of a battle fought with limited hope and understanding.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00