Well, at long last, we are back. Yes, the semester is done, my stress levels are at an all-time low, and we can finally get back in the chair and return to Netflix Dumpster Dive.

It feels like forever since I’ve scrolled through Netflix for something unfamiliar to watch. It feels like a part of me has been missing for so long. Finally, finally, we can get back to it, and there’s no better way to do that but to take on a horror film.

Sit back, relax, eat some totally-safe-and-not-at-all-from-the-trash popcorn. Netflix Dumpster Dive has returned.

I chose to review 2017’s Veronica because I had been hearing good things about it, though nothing in the mainstream. I kept my expectations curbed, even when hearing that it was one of the scariest movies ever. Or, rather, I kept my expectations curbed because of that fact.

When movies are championed as being the scariest thing out right now, it’s hard for me to take that line seriously. I get jaded toward the film. And, maybe that’s because I don’t get scared by movies like most. Jumpscares are easy to predict, loud musical cues are simple to brace oneself for, and well, let’s be honest, most movies fail the creepy, tense ambience that we need to truly feel anxiety and terror.

Veronica is a different beast than I expected. Yes, it’s a movie about a demon possessing a girl. To me, it at first seemed like it’d be just another Exorcist ripoff. I was, however, pleasantly surprised.

What Veronica does is approach its characterization and themes in a way that I don’t feel many of these demonic possession flicks do. Veronica being a motherly figure to her siblings is something I feel like hasn’t been done as much as it could be. What it accomplishes is putting a damper on the “parent doesn’t believe in the spooks” trope. Veronica’s mother is working constantly, leaving a fifteen-year-old girl to look after three children in the wake of the possession. This premature role for her is at odds with her delayed “flowering” in the movie, and while the latter is pretty common in films of this nature, I think it was handled well.

I say this so often with non-American films: the child actors were really great. All the kids in this movie nailed their roles, believably, not too hammy, not underacted. Really, really impressed with them from the beginning. I also love the chemistry all the siblings had. Felt like my own home growing up, on some level.

I think the best part of this movie, that made me feel like this movie stood so far apart from films of its family, is that we don’t get a scene of Veronica being a scary demon every ten minutes. Her role is almost entirely as a savior and protector to her siblings, until the very end, when we realize that the little hints and off moments we may not have even noticed were the demon acting through her. Veronica is like the mother in The Babadook, but she is far more effective in that her reveal is subtle, gradual, and she’s truly horrified by it. Veronica’s mental state isn’t demonic the whole film, it’s withering with her.

That being said, Veronica does fall into some traps along the way. You’ve got some jumpscares, you’ve got the Ouija board, you’ve got a creepy religious figure warning her about the devil. And, even though it’s less abundant in this movie, Veronica’s mother is still there to say, “It’s all in your head.” Let’s not forget the “true story” part at the end either (I get it really was based on a “true story,” but come on, I have to roll my eyes). Can I blame the filmmakers for this? I have to, in some areas. They show me they can do better than easy plot devices. But, they still use them. They do it more effectively than most movies, but they still let me down in some areas.

All qualms aside, did this movie meet my expectations? I will say, yes, but is that more because I kept them tempered, or because it was really good? Does that matter? I think the nature of Netflix Dumpster Dive is me going in with low expectations, and having them exceeded. In this case, I had them met, no more, no less. I was pleasantly surprised by a few parts: acting and the ending as mentioned before, and the cinematography and lighting were far better than expected from a demon movie.

While this movie is far from my favorite that I’ve reviewed, I liked it a lot. I think I would watch it again, too, and maybe that will improve my view on it more. Nonetheless, for now, I will recommend it, but keep those expectations in check. Don’t get too hyped only to be let down.

Overall Personal Rating: 7/10

 

Thanks for reading! It’s been a long time, but it’s good to be back. If you want more Netflix Dumpster Dive, be sure to follow the site, and feel free to check out my books in the link above. You can also follow me on Twitter here.

 

© 2018 Vincent C. Russo. All Rights Reserved. This post is intended for review and constitutes fair use. This film and any images used belong to their respective owners.