i was wanting to take on something with a bit of edge
this one reading like some sort of true life x-file episode
the atticus institute being a small clinic in pennsylvania
employing various psychology graduates back in the 1970s
an air of mystery around it as various talking heads are shown
the son, daughter and wife of the main man doctor henry west
each talking fondly of their father and husband in the past tense
amateur film and grainy photos are shown to back up their stories
seems he was a devoted family man but also absorbed by his work
being the unique study of paranormal activity induced by humans
more footage of various people mysteriously moving small objects
and similar very grainy footage of the russians also investigating
the modern day talking heads looking a bit tense as they talk
suggesting some freaky happenings at the institute back then
i'm trying to work out if it's for real or a clever piece of fiction
first impression of the interviewees is that they are actors - maybe
but let's just go with it - it's very well done and quite engrossing
things go up a notch when a lady named judith is brought in
taken there by her sister and described by her in the present
something 'different' about her - some unusual powers too
footage shown of her opening drawers and moving chairs
but no communication skills though and very detached
as the testing ramps up so too does the paranormal activity
at will she seems to cause equipment and power failures
armed guards are then brought in to provide more security
one guard interviewed in the present talking very ominously
i was young, at the peak of my strength and totally intimidated
it ruined me and anyone involved or watching this film too
whaaaaaaaaaaaat - i'm going to be affected - yep - fiction
judith manages to make a frog explode and a guard-dog die
word gets out about her 'possession' and the military move in
seems they have an interest in harnassing her paranormal power
she is hooked up to an electric-shock machine and off they go
trying to induce her to make a soldier speak involuntarily
but she is beyond that and other strange things happen
members of clinic employees families meet with accidents
one picks up a paperclip that ends up electrocuting a nephew
all the while judith seen in contorted positions and howling
a priest is brought in a-la the exorcist and dons a gas mask
the backup plan being to release poisonous gas if required
weird scenes - he enters her glass cage and raises his cross
she overpowers him though in shackles - the gas released
knocked unconscious - doctor west approaches the cage
she leaps to life, howls and is seen then as though shot
and the doctor zombie like leaves the room - forever
never seen again - oh - got it - he is now possessed
the end - hmmm - kind of creepy alright - well done
got the edge i wanted - and still wondering - fiction?
hoping so at least - and confirmation with the credits
all characters are fictionalised - any resemblance, etc, etc
phew - writer/director/producer chris sparling has had fun
me - locked the doors and expecting a restless sleep tonight...
