FRIGHTFEST 2020 - The Cleansing Hour

FRIGHTFEST 2020

Damien LeVeck's The Cleansing Hour is a gloriously tense and atmospheric tale of an exorcism with a 21st-century twist. Writer and director LeVeck and co-writer Aaron Horwitz have managed to craft something along the lines of Red State meeting The Ring. It is a modern reflection of the multimedia world, elevated by a dark and gruesome twist,which makes it a must for horror fans. Granted genre convention is in abundance here, but it never feels overly relied upon or negates the enjoyment factor of knowing what is around the corner.

LeVeck and Horwitz do a noble job of crafting a film that is not only emotionally engaging, but also effective with its scares. Primarily taking place in an isolated setting of a low budget production set adds a tremendous feeling of remoteness to the occasion, rendering it quite atmospheric. Cinemtographer Jean-Philippe Bernier has a keen and strong eye cuts the space and pushes the viewer to experience each gruesome turn.

Damien LeVeck’s edit strengthens the overall film with the aesthetic choice of incorporating the digital age visually. Transitioning through a live broadcast over the internet, and in real-time of the exorcism adds a great deal of weight to the unfolding events. Replicating the digital age we live in, and the staunch predatorial monetary gain of exploiting a fan base also adds weight to the characters’ arcs and layers. They are ultimately explored through the plot as small but integral pieces of a larger mysterious puzzle.

This exploration is complemented by an incredibly strong performance from a trio of leads; Kyle Gallner, Ryan Guzman and Alix Angelis all supply comprehensive skill and emotional range in their respective roles. Alix Angelis, specifically, carries The Cleansing Hour in a performance whithout which this feature wouldn’t have hit the height it ends up reaching. Apart from her terrific visual demeanour, she brings to the film a most definitive solemnity that accentuates the tale being told.