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Celluloid demons

Is it just me, or do demons seem to be making a surge onto the big screen these days? In addition to Come Closer, which I noted yesterday, here are a few more films I’ve run across that are taking that subject on:

Joshua. Releasing this summer, the April 27/May 4 issue of Entertainment Weekly says this film “bears a striking resemblance to The Omen.” IMDB says it’s a “psychological thriller in which a successful young Manhattan family is torn apart” in this story “of a perfect boy who had a perfect plan.” The NY Times calls it a “sobering family drama,” about “an affluent young married couple living, working, and raising children in New York City. Their firstborn, the eight-year-old Joshua, is a hyper-intelligent and thoroughly manipulative child -- so manipulative and devious that when the presence of a newborn baby sister threatens his place as the only child, he sociopathically sets about tearing the family to pieces with a series of cruel head games and Machiavellian schemes.” Huh. I’m thinking this film doesn’t look as kitchy as The Omen, which could be a good thing. It might bring some decent God-talk to the table in regards to why we do what we do and are who we are.

Ronin. A long time cult classic, Comingsoon reports that Warner Bros will be bringing Frank Miller’s graphic novel about a battle between a samurai warrior and a shape-shifting demon to the big screen 300-style. “In the story,” reports Comingsoon, “a ronin, or disgraced samurai warrior, bears the shame of allowing his master to be assassinated by a shape-shifting demon in 13th century Japan. When the master's sword is unearthed in mid-21st century New York, the ronin and the demon are brought to life and battle gangs of mutants and thugs to try to take possession of the mythical sword.”

Otherworld. This is a novel (or series of novels?) by Michael Scott who will also write the screenplay, says Comingsoon. What’s it about? A “contemporary fantasy dealing with ancient demons unleashed by global warming.” Heh.

(Image: from The Temptation of St. Anthony by Martin Schöngauer c. 1480-90)