Spiritual Practise (2020) Review
Coming from a director who has a knack of bringing a fresh perspective to familiar tropes this, Patrick Rea’s latest short film started off looking like another EXORCIST clone. But fear not, SPIRITUAL PRACTISE has more up its sleeve than you’d imagine it possible as the plot twists and turns through nine fun-packed minutes.
Rather than the viewer simply witnessing yet another young girl being saved from the evil spirit that inhabits her body, Rea’s flick concerns priests training to become professional exorcists – ones that the head trainer hopes will not embarrass the Pope and the Vatican. The exorcism is part of a training exercise. Unfortunately after three weeks the trainees have failed to cleanse the young girl – Angela – of her demon as they lack focus. Not only is this bad for Angela but for everyone else as a whole. Extra exorcists are required as there has been a recent rise in demonic possessions across the country.
To say anything more about the path SPIRITUAL PRACTISE takes would be to ruin the surprise so why not keep an eye out for it when it starts its festival run later in the year. I assure you that it’ll keep you on your toes the entire time.