So you’ve just subscribed to Shudder and need something to watch. Something new to whet your horror movie palate is in order. The Cleansing Hour might not be the best movie on Shudder. The chaotic film drops onto the streamer officially on October 8th, 2020. The is by director Damien Leveck (A Creature Was Stirring 2023) and comes with entrepreneurial millennials who run a successful webcast about exorcisms.
The scene is set in an opening that raises the hope of horror film connoisseurs looking for their next fix. In front of a live audience is a lovely young man. Mid-possession exodus, the priest, Max, just happens to be as easy on the eye as a certain Witcher series lead man. There is all manner of ritualistic chantings and a demon brings forth the venom any good exorcism requires in order to cast it out. Special effects are on point and the action and darkness are palpable.
Entrepreneurial Possession Stories
Going forward, The Cleansing Hour is a really good idea. A kind of a mix between what could have been a newfound-footage offering, and any possession film you might have seen before. It’s a single-location horror movie and finds its feet early on. Erring more towards the horror-comedy-laden satire side of the genre, the performances and perks are great.
The rudimentary glee in which the story dishes out redundant demonic possession tropes would have been applauded if all of them hadn’t been used before. It jams in my least favorite wince-inducing gore sequences. There is the beloved walking on glass and a self-inflicted death by box cutter included with grimace-worthy close-up cinematography.
Catholic Schools, Flogging Rules
Unfortunately, the oversights come in the narrative. Surrounding an epicenter of mystery, the demon possessing the woman of the hour, Lane, wants confessions to make it return to hell. Tenterhooks get laid in a guessing game of who has the most sin. Between Max and his partner slash best friend Drew, backstories are inseminated to keep you guessing.
These flashbacks declare Max might be a sham priest now, but he had plenty of religion in his awful childhood. I liked most of the intrepid storyline and the added value of the thirsty webcast female audience alongside their interaction with the live feed. Where I fell out with The Cleansing Hour was in the final reveal. I just wanted a bigger surprise that packed a bit more punch.
Fortunately, The Cleansing Hour redeems itself in the closing credit scenes. Still generic in nature and entirely a predictable outcome, I very much enjoyed an almost out-take of events showing what happens after the curtain closes. It was cool, and I make no apologies for liking it.
I give The Cleansing Hour
3.5 entrepreneurial exorcism webcasts out of 5
The Cleansing Hour Trailer
- Directed by: Damien LeVeck
- Written by: Damien LeVeck and Aaron Horwitz
- The Cleansing Hour movie cast includes Ryan Guzman, Kyle Gallner, and Alix Angelis.
- For another great review of The Cleansing Hour 2019 read ScaredSheepless’s take.
