TRAUMATIKA
7.8 / 10
Personally, I think it’s a badge of honor if your indie horror flick makes someone walk out after a gruesome scene.
This week we’re talking Traumatika, the follow-up from Two Witches director Pierre Tsigaridis who reunites with co-writer and producer Maxime Rancon for a tale of demonic possession and childhood trauma.
The story opens with a flashback that doubles as both an origin story and a loving nod to The Exorcist. An Arab man wanders the desert, clutching an ancient artifact. Haunted by his son’s death, he buries it in the sand while slipping into madness.
Fast forward to modern day: John Reed – played with real menace by Sean O’Bryan – is warned by his business partner NOT TO OPEN THE THE ARTIFACT’S HEAD. BECAUSE THERE’S A DEMON INSIDE.
You can see where this is going.
Rebekah Kennedy, who played Masha in Two Witches, returns as Abigail, John’s older daughter and the object of Volpaazu’s affection. That’s the demon. As the spirit tightens its grip, the terror spreads from John and Abigail to the children of Pasadena.
I loved the tension building in this movie, especially in the first act. Pierre never forgets horror’s first tenet: scare your audience. The film delivers on that throughout. And wait til you see Volpaazu.
And as for the scene that made two people at my screening walk out, mid-film? You’ll have to experience it yourself, but honestly, who goes to a movie like this not expecting the grotesque and disturbing?
As it stands, Traumatika is a sharp, terrifying new entry in the demonic possession subgenre of horror. If you love horror and that feeling of your body tensing in the theater, this movie is for you. Just in time for scary season!
My rating: a 7.8 out of 10, and a strong recommendation to go see this at the movies.
This week we’re talking Traumatika, the follow-up from Two Witches director Pierre Tsigaridis who reunites with co-writer and producer Maxime Rancon for a tale of demonic possession and childhood trauma.
The story opens with a flashback that doubles as both an origin story and a loving nod to The Exorcist. An Arab man wanders the desert, clutching an ancient artifact. Haunted by his son’s death, he buries it in the sand while slipping into madness.
Fast forward to modern day: John Reed – played with real menace by Sean O’Bryan – is warned by his business partner NOT TO OPEN THE THE ARTIFACT’S HEAD. BECAUSE THERE’S A DEMON INSIDE.
You can see where this is going.
Rebekah Kennedy, who played Masha in Two Witches, returns as Abigail, John’s older daughter and the object of Volpaazu’s affection. That’s the demon. As the spirit tightens its grip, the terror spreads from John and Abigail to the children of Pasadena.
I loved the tension building in this movie, especially in the first act. Pierre never forgets horror’s first tenet: scare your audience. The film delivers on that throughout. And wait til you see Volpaazu.
And as for the scene that made two people at my screening walk out, mid-film? You’ll have to experience it yourself, but honestly, who goes to a movie like this not expecting the grotesque and disturbing?
As it stands, Traumatika is a sharp, terrifying new entry in the demonic possession subgenre of horror. If you love horror and that feeling of your body tensing in the theater, this movie is for you. Just in time for scary season!
My rating: a 7.8 out of 10, and a strong recommendation to go see this at the movies.