After the year’s many derivative takes on the possession formula, this movie hits like a flesh-searing wind tunnel of fresh air. This feels like the Evil Dead successor that should have been, malevolent and bleak, without heroes, humor or hope. There is scant worldbuilding, but effectively conveying a world where faith in spiritual authorities is dead, and possession can afflict anyone and spread like a contagion. The audience always feels at least two steps behind, not entirely knowing the rules or mechanism, but the characters also seem to be in a similar plight. Despite knowing more about the nature of this threat, they make devastating assumptions and mistakes, often acting in defiance of what few rules would keep them and their loved ones safe. While there are moments of exposition, they are delivered organically and appropriate to the plot. The direction is fantastic, brisk and with ever present tension, the ominous inevitability that something horrible is about to happen. And this film never disappoints in that department, with regular intervals of shocking and gut-wrenching moments. This film executes horrors that no hollywood studio would dream of touching, becoming quickly apparent nothing is sacred and no one is safe. But the film isn’t simply relying on horrific sights and sounds, there is a deeply unsettling theme of human hubris and ignorance being the catalyst.It is relentless, uncompromising, and absolutely brutal, delivering horrendous sights and sounds in conjunction with heart-wrenching glimpses at humanity’s worst and most self-destructive flaws.