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Prey for the Devil (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Prey for the Devil (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 93 min · English
Echo score 46
JustWatch #16,389
Directed by
Daniel Stamm
Starring
Tom Forbes, Virginia Madsen, Ben Cross, Lisa Palfrey, Debora Zhecheva, Colin Salmon

Sister Ann takes a dangerous path to become the Catholic Church's first female exorcist amidst a global rise in demonic possessions. Seeking training, she joins a revived exorcism school where a professor acknowledges her extraordinary abilities. Alongside fellow student Father Dante, Ann confronts a powerful evil force, testing her faith and forcing her to face a troubling history and the potential influence of the Devil.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Prey for the Devil
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Prey for the Devil (2022)

Where can you watch Prey for the Devil? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Prey for the Devil Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Prey for the Devil (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Ann

    played by Jacqueline Byers

    Ann is a dedicated nun who works in the medical ward of the school, haunted by her past and driven to understand the world of exorcism. Her bravery shines through as she confronts demons, both external and internal, to protect others and uncover the truth about her own life.

    • 👩‍⚖️ Hero
    • 🙏 Faithful
    • 🌌 Tormented
  • Father Dante

    played by Christian Navarro

    Father Dante is a compassionate priest who helps Ann uncover the dark forces at play. He carries the weight of his troubled family history, seeking to assist his sister and guiding Ann on her journey toward redemption.

    • 🙏 Compassionate
    • 🥺 Protective
    • 📜 Conflicted
  • Natalie

    played by Posy Taylor

    Natalie serves as a vital link to Ann's past, embodying the challenges and connections of motherhood. Her tragic struggle against possession reflects not only her own turmoil but also Ann's unresolved pain and longing to protect her child.

    • 👶 Vulnerable
    • 👻 Possessed
    • 🕊️ Innocent

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:03

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Setting

Where and When Does Prey for the Devil Take Place?

The setting of Prey for the Devil (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

St. Michael the Archangel School of Exorcism, Boston

The St. Michael the Archangel School of Exorcism in Boston serves as a training ground for priests learning to conduct exorcisms. This institution is shrouded in mystery and darkness, becoming a focal point for Ann's journey as she navigates her faith and the supernatural.

  • 🏫 School
  • 🏙️ City

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:03

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3 major themes

Prey for the Devil Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Prey for the Devil (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Redemption

    The theme of redemption runs deeply through Ann's journey as she strives to confront her past and seek forgiveness. Her involvement in exorcisms not only aids others but also represents her quest for self-acceptance and spiritual healing.

  • Battle Against Evil

    The constant struggle between good and evil is portrayed vividly in Ann's life. The battle against demonic forces symbolizes her inner conflicts and the lengths she will go to protect those she loves, especially when facing off against her own past.

  • Motherhood

    Motherhood is a poignant theme, highlighted by Ann's backstory of having a child she chose to give up for adoption. The emotional reunion with Natalie illustrates the complexities of love, loss, and the burdens of choices made.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:03

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Character & theme questions

Prey for the Devil Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Prey for the Devil (2022): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place primarily at the St. Michael the Archangel School of Exorcism in Boston. This mysterious institution serves as both a training ground for priests learning to perform exorcisms and the central location where Ann undergoes her spiritual transformation.

  • boston
  • exorcism school
  • setting
  • location
Q2

What is the St. Michael the Archangel School of Exorcism?

The school is a secretive institution in Boston that trains priests in the practice of exorcism. It represents the Catholic Church's formal response to the rising number of demonic possessions globally, and it becomes the battleground where Ann must prove herself in a male-dominated religious hierarchy.

  • exorcism school
  • priests
  • training
  • catholic church
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The film explores three central themes: redemption, as Ann seeks forgiveness and self-acceptance through her work; the battle between good and evil, both supernatural and internal; and motherhood, represented through Ann's painful past decision to give up her child for adoption.

  • themes
  • redemption
  • good vs evil
  • motherhood
  • faith
Q4

What does redemption mean for Ann?

For Ann, redemption is intertwined with her involvement in exorcisms. Her work helping others possessed by demons directly serves her own quest for spiritual healing and self-forgiveness, particularly as she grapples with unresolved guilt from her past.

  • redemption
  • forgiveness
  • ann
  • spiritual healing
Q5

How does motherhood play into the story?

Motherhood is a crucial theme revealed through Ann's backstory. She gave up a child for adoption before becoming a nun, and the emotional reunion with her daughter Natalie becomes a pivotal moment that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the lasting impact of impossible choices.

  • motherhood
  • ann's daughter
  • natalie
  • adoption
Q6

Who is Sister Ann and what is her role?

Sister Ann (born Jacqueline Byers) is a dedicated nun working in the medical ward of the exorcism school. Haunted by her past, she embarks on a dangerous path to become the Church's first female exorcist, driven by both faith and personal trauma.

  • sister ann
  • jacqueline byers
  • nun
  • exorcist
Q7

Who is Father Dante?

Father Dante is a compassionate priest and fellow student at the exorcism school who helps Ann uncover dark forces at play. He carries the weight of his own troubled family history, particularly concerning his sister, and serves as a guide on Ann's journey toward redemption.

  • father dante
  • christian navarro
  • priest
  • supporting character
Q8

Who is Natalie and what is her connection to Ann?

Natalie is Ann's long-lost daughter, given up for adoption before Ann entered the convent. Her struggle with possession becomes tragically linked to Ann's own unresolved pain, making her both a victim Ann desperately wants to save and a representation of her deepest regrets.

  • natalie
  • posy taylor
  • ann's daughter
  • possession
Q9

What does the battle against evil represent thematically?

The battle against demonic forces symbolizes much more than a supernatural conflict. It represents Ann's internal struggles, her willingness to confront her own darkness, and the lengths she will go to protect others, especially when facing demons that mirror her personal traumas.

  • battle
  • evil
  • demons
  • inner conflict
  • supernatural
Q10

What genre and tone can viewers expect?

Prey for the Devil is a horror-thriller with a consistently dark and serious tone. The film focuses on faith, trauma, and psychological turmoil without humor or romance, maintaining intense dread through its exploration of demonic possession and fractured family bonds.

  • horror
  • thriller
  • tone
  • faith
  • psychological

Movie threads

More Movies Like Prey for the Devil, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Prey for the Devil tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Demonic possession horror movies like Prey for the Devil

Somber tales of faith tested by intense, high-stakes exorcisms. If you liked the high-intensity exorcism scenes and oppressive atmosphere of Prey for the Devil, explore these similar movies. This collection features dark, serious horror films centered on battles against demonic forces, testing faith and sanity.

  • demonic
  • oppressive
  • religious horror
  • tense
  • unsettling
  • somber
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, serious
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist, often with a religious or personal connection to the evil, as they engage in a series of escalating confrontations with a demonic presence. The plot is driven by ritualistic attempts to expel the entity, revealing deeper character trauma and testing the limits of faith.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the visceral horror of demonic possession, a consistently dark and serious tone, and the thematic exploration of faith under extreme duress. The viewing experience is defined by high tension and heavy emotional weight.

Psychological horror with personal trauma like Prey for the Devil

Where supernatural terror forces a painful confrontation with buried trauma. Fans of Prey for the Devil's exploration of deep-seated trauma through a supernatural lens will appreciate these movies. Discover similar stories where the monster outside is inextricably linked to the demons within, creating a heavy, unsettling experience.

  • psychological
  • traumatic
  • unsettling
  • somber
  • anxious
  • dark past
  • Tone: somber, unsettling, psychologically complex
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist being drawn into a horrifying situation that eerily mirrors or directly connects to a traumatic event from their past. The unfolding horror forces them to confront repressed memories and guilt, making the external conflict a grueling internal journey.

Why they belong together: They share a core structure where the supernatural plot is a vehicle for exploring profound psychological trauma. This creates a uniquely heavy and unsettling vibe, combining intense horror with deep emotional character work and ambiguous realities.

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Movies Like Prey for the Devil

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Every angle

Prey for the Devil (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Prey for the Devil in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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