Lovely Molly

Eduardo Sanchez (the more successful half of The Blair Witch Project director team) helmed yet another critically praised psychological thriller that unluckily flew beneath the radar with Lovely Molly. Like most horror films dealing with the supernatural, Lovely Molly gives viewers a bleak prologue foreshadowing the protagonist's downfall. Although unlike most supernatural films, Sanchez's latest foray into the possession sub-genre isn't based on so-called "actual events "and thankfully steers clear of any that jump scares that pollute other lesser films. When the movie introduces the audience to newlywed Molly (Gretchen Lodge), it's clear very early on that things won't end well for her and those close to her when she and her husband decide to move back into her family home to save money for their new life together. Shortly after, strange and terrifying things start happening to Molly and she resorts to drugs in an attempt to escape the disturbances. However, is it an abusive past, drug addiction or demonic-possession driving Molly downward in a spiral of madness? Sanchez leaves it up to the viewer to decide, which makes the ambiguity of this thriller much more troubling. Lovely Molly offers a fresh take on the supernatural horror genre by presenting metaphors and internal demons paralleling real-life situations. The revelations of Molly's dark past make the film that much more interesting, as it is completely plausible that her friends and family (and even viewers) would dispute her claims that a demon is possessing her. Although, if one wants to know what really is behind Molly's downfall, Blu-Ray special "Path to Madness" offers answers to questions that should have been left blank. Much like the Curse of the Blair Witch documentary, these cleverly shot faux documentary-style featurettes help the audience deduce who the entity truly is, which may take away the essential uneasiness conveyed throughout the film.