Diabolic
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Diabolic
Diabolic (2025) is a supernatural horror film directed by Daniel J. Phillips, centering on Elise, a young woman grappling with trauma from her upbringing in a fringe sect of the Mormon church, the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS). The narrative follows Elise as she attempts a radical 'healing ceremony' involving hallucinogenic drugs, which inadvertently unleashes a vengeful witch spirit intent on possessing her. The film blends elements of religious horror with psychological tension and explores themes of trauma, repression, and the dark side of religious fundamentalism. It is noted for its intense gore, disturbing visuals, and a central 'queer coming of age' storyline. The movie is intended for mature audiences due to its graphic content and challenging themes.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The film explicitly features LGBTQ+ themes, with the protagonist Elise's queerness central to the narrative and her past experiences. Her 'queer coming of age' story is an explicit engine of the plot, connecting directly to her trauma and the witch's motivations. This content is not merely coded but directly addressed.
1. Elise's repressed memories, unlocked through therapy, reveal a past 'sexual relationship with the Bishop's daughter, Clara (Luca Asta Sardelis)' during her time in the FLDS community. 2. A review explicitly states, 'Diabolic is, very intentionally, a queer coming of age story. Not coded. Not implied. Explicit. Elise's queerness is central to her alienation from the compound and to the witch's fixation on her.'
Violence
The film contains intense and graphic violence, particularly in its climactic moments, featuring explicit gore and brutal deaths. The violence is often presented with practical effects, enhancing its visceral impact.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft and occult themes are central to the film's plot, involving a vengeful spirit, demonic possession, and a cursed witch. The narrative combines religious fundamentalism with dark magic.
Scary & Intense Content
The movie is a horror film designed to be terrifying and unsettling, featuring intense scenes, graphic violence, and psychological dread. It utilizes both jump scares and a slow-burn atmosphere to create fear.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The film heavily features themes of disrespect and rebellion against strict religious authority, focusing on the protagonist's trauma from a fundamentalist cult and her efforts to escape or confront that past.
Anti-Christian Themes
The film explores critical perspectives on religious fundamentalism, specifically focusing on the FLDS church and portraying it as a source of trauma and control. It links religious extremism with dark occult practices and suggests that systems of belief can be inherently violent and hypocritical.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Not recommended for viewers under 18 years old. The film features graphic violence, intense gore, explicit LGBTQ+ themes and a past sexual relationship, hallucinogenic drug use, strong profanity, and disturbing religious content. Its Australian MA rating strongly suggests an equivalent R rating in the US, indicating content unsuitable for minors.
Good to Know
The film is an Australian production with an MA rating, generally equivalent to an R rating in the US. While reviews praise lead actress Elizabeth Cullen's performance and the practical effects, some critique the pacing and plot consistency. The ending is described as brutal, with the antagonist Larue seemingly prospering and continuing murderous rituals, leaving a bleak outlook where evil can succeed when people ignore cruelty.
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