🔍 Synopsis

Infernal centers on a newlywed couple, Nathan (Andy Ostroff) and Sophia (Heather Adair), who, after the marriage, welcomes their first child, Imogene (Alyssa Koerner). While the family enjoys their time together, they note peculiar changes in the young Imogene’s behavior. Imogene is, in fact, diagnosed with autism but, soon after, things take a dark turn when haunting and inexplicable events start plaguing the family which suggests that there is a far greater malignant force that is toying with them.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Infernal also had extremely low to zero critical reception and acclaim on its launch date.

🎭 Cast & Crew

• Nathan: Andy Ostroff
• Sophia: Heather Adair
• Imogene: Alyssa Koerner
• Father Samuels: Jose Rosete
• Director & Writer: Bryan Coyne

💡 Personal Insights

Undoubtedly capturing the spirit of demonic possession, films like The Omen and Paranormal Activity served as the inspiration for-found footage shot style used in Infernal. While the premise is fundamentally strong, it fails in effectiveness on a rather broad scale.

The footage captured is particularly uninspired, with characters inexplicably recording moments where putting the camera down would be much consider the more reasonable option. Such distort the footage helps in raising skepticism instead of solving it noting the overall immersion created.

Uneven and underwhelming attacks a majority of resources put into the film as the pacing is dully riddled with plenty of uninspired prolonged moments that do not build nor progress the plot in any sharp, efficient or effective manner.

In a lighter aspect, the movie has some eerie moments, especially in Imogene’s dealings with the unknown. These instances suggest that the psychological horror elements of the film can go deeper, but are drowned in the movie’s technical and narrative issues.

🌍 Cultural Significance

Infernal is a contribution to the sub-genre of found footage horror, which gained traction in the second half of the 2000s and the early 2010s. While there is nothing new or fresh, it does portray the style of independent horror films of the time, where loose fits tried to exploit the intimate panic and voyeurism of found footage filmmaking.