"Demons" vs. "The Hollow Child"

Welcome to another one of MoVTie Critic's "Movie Verses" where two movies go head to head for the highest ranking on the Green Mountain Stars scale. Today, we have two films that dive into the dark supernatural world of demonic possession. "Demons" and "The Hollow Child".

Up first we have "Demons", a film that takes many twist and turns to tell its story. Former priest turned fiction writer Colin Hampstead (Miles Doleac who also wrote and directed this) and his wife Kayleigh (Lindsey Anne Williams) have made a good life for themselves and are hosting Colin's friend Eddie (Steven Brand) and his fiancé Lara (Kristina Emerson) at their home before their wedding. Little do they know that the tragedy of losing her sister Jewel (Jessica Harthcock) while trying to exorcise her would bring an evening of terror as Jewel's spirit starts reaching out to Kayleigh. Having to relive the events of that night in her mind and remembering the dark secrets of her past with their religious abusive father Jasper Grant (Andrew Divoff) and their mother Caroline Grant (Caroline Baggerly) we see the events play out how Colin and Kayleigh met during this dark time and the events that transpired that night as the past comes back to haunt Kayleigh. It will take all of their faith to face the past they wished to forget and face the dark secrets they may wished were never told.

Next we have "The Hollow Child". In this story, troubled foster teen Samantha (Jessica McLeod) is currently living in a new foster home with foster parents Garrett (John Emmet Tracy) and Liz (Jane Mitsoula) and their young daughter Olivia (Hannah Cheramy) who loves having Samantha as a big sister. Rather wanting to hang out with her childhood friend Emily (Genevieve Buechner) she lets Olivia walk home alone through the woods where she disappears. After days of searching Olivia finds her way home. At first everyone is relieved, but Sam soon begins to notice Olivia's odd behavior and a woman named Alison (Johannah Newmarch) who has a similar past to these events telling her that Olivia is an imposter. As Sam digs deeper into the matter, she learns Oliva is not the first this has happened to and that they all may be in grave danger. With no one to believe her except her friend Logan (Connor Stanhope), it will be up to them to stop this intruder and try to save the real Oliva before its too late to save her, or themselves.

Choosing between the two was difficult. Both have unique storylines with talented actors giving real and at times intense performances and storylines that are the stuff of nightmares. Still only one can come out on top. "Demons" gives its audience a frightful and confusing thrill as we piece together the story to solve the mystery surrounding Jewel's life and death with a shocking revelation in the climax that will leave you dumbfounded.
"The Hollow Child" takes the fear of losing a child in more ways than one and plays on that adding in old superstitions of the supernatural invading our world to make a horrifying concept brought to life on film. Young Hannah Cheramy did a splendid job at going from a sweet girl who loved fairies to being an evil entity likely to tear off the wings of fairies than dream about them while Jessica McLeod plays the troubled, yet good-hearted girl who finds a reason to fight back.

These stories were well casted, filmed and portrayed, but I had to choose one to win. "Demons" came out with four G.M.Stars for its stand-out, enigma unraveling story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The Hollow Child" came out just ahead with four and a half G.M.Stars with its frighteningly eerie tale and talented young cast delivering the punch it needed to win this "Movie Verses" I hope you enjoyed this one and you'll be pleased to hear that another one will be coming soon. So until then, I'll see you at the movies.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

"Demons" and "The Hollow Child" are both available at Redbox and where movies are sold/streamed.