Review by Peter Syslo
SUCCUBUS: THE DEMON (2006 Finland ) is another recent DVD release from Salvation/Redemption (www.salvation-films.com); this company continues to bring interesting and unusual films to willing and curious audiences. The DVD features stereo sound, widescreen presentation, and English subtitles. The DVD extras include: “Diaries of a Madman” featurette, “Erotic Nightmares” featurette, “Making of Blood FX”, “Making of Cine Photography”, stills gallery, and Redemption trailers. In short, SUCCUBUS was a refreshing film and I found it to be quite original, overall. It started out as a ghost/haunting story but then it escalated into a slasher film and a tale of the occult. I have to say that I was very impressed by the film. Yes, it was very somber (and a little bleak at times) but the story, the effects, and the performance by actor Markus Salo made it very memorable.
SUCCUBUS is directed by Sami Haavisto and it was originally released by the Finnish film company, Blood Ceremony. The film stars Markus Salo, Pekka Oinonen, Veera Toivanen, Maarit From, Mika Vattulainen, and Kirsi Vahomaki.
The film is about a man named Henri (Salo), who is a quiet and reserved office worker. He recently lost his wife due to “an illness” and he has become quite an alcoholic (he wakes in the middle of the night to take a drink and he is often late for work). To make matters worse, his wife’s death plagues him and he begins to see ghostly visions of her. It starts to go beyond just visions when he tries to throw out her wedding dress - the thing keeps re-appearing. When Henri’s boss suggests that he take some time off and work at home, Henri really begins to loose his grip on reality. In order to sort out his predicament, he seeks the help of his co-worker/friend, a psychiatrist, and two mediums. A further complication to the story is that Henri cannot remember exactly how his wife died and he feels that her spirit is trying to tell him something. Unfortunately, he goes with the advice of a medium, who offers him a book of black magick (you know, of the demonic/satanic variety). Henri eventually finds out the truth about his wife and about himself, but that knowledge comes at the cost of releasing a female demon and possibly losing his soul, in the process.
I really liked this film. At first, I thought that it was going to be the garden-variety type of haunting film but it shifted into high gear about halfway through and ventured into some uncharted territory. I liked the fact that there was some ambiguity regarding Henri’s condition; for the first half of the film, you don’t know if he is just crippled with anguish or if he is simply a drunk who is hallucinating. You do feel some sorrow for the man, because it appears that he is completely crushed and truly sick. But, as the film moves on, you begin to wonder about his true psychological state and whether or not he is deserving of pity. The point in the film where Henri “loses it” and murders the first medium he visits (because she is a huckster), is the moment that rocks the whole film and that is the point where all of the pieces start falling into place. When Henri takes the advice of the second medium and performs a Black Magick ritual, it is like “the point of no return” of the film. Once the film goes into that realm, it is a twisted and a unique experience.
The first half was pretty much a straightforward haunting, with the standard “haunting” conventions: Henri sees visions; the wife’s spirit needs to tell him something; Henri wants to capture it on video; and no one believes what he sees. But, as soon as Henri makes that kill, the film becomes a surreal occult experience. Actually, this film is a perfect film for Black metal fans (like myself) – it has the same occult aspect as that subgenre of music does. For instance, Henri meticulously creates a pentagram on the floor of his apartment and proceeds to perform the ritual. He accidentally awakens the Succubus, who you see sitting on a throne on top of a landscape of skulls, in the nether world (that image alone was an awesome visual and it is one of the strongest scenes in the film). The Succubus, who does look very much like how you would picture a succubus, provides Henri with the window of truth and he finds that the truth is the most painful aspect of the demonic experience. Everything is realized, in true succubus fashion, through a demonic three-way between the Succubus, Henri’s wife, and Henri. Also, the truth is expounded through a grand succubus orgy scene, in the end. Basically, what I am illustrating is that this film is not afraid to “go there” and it satisfies the viewer’s curiosity (it certainly satisfied mine).
Gnawing through the flesh: SUCCUBUS: THE DEMON was a very fulfilling film which was very well done. I thought that Markus Salo, who portrayed Henri, gave an excellent portrayal of the descent into madness. He played the psychological role very well and I am still not sure if all of it was in Henri’s head (it may have been). The film is part ghost story, part slasher, and part occult film. The atmosphere is perfect and the somber tone set up the content of the story very well. Again, it was a little bleak; afterwards I needed to watch something “lighter” on TV to kind of cleanse my palate and my mood. But, once you do get to that halfway point of the film, it is a sheer experience for the senses. You have excellent effects – some CGI, some practical - and the makeup look of the Succubus formed a very good concept of the character. Lest I forget, there is also extensive female nudity in the sex scenes at the end – both full-frontal and full from-behind… I said that it was an experience for the senses (although the succubi are a little decomposed-looking). In essence, SUCCUBUS: THE DEMON is that film that would be satisfying for the horror fan who is looking for something a little “out-of-the-ordinary”. It really did “hit the spot” and I give it a 9/10.