Incarnate (2016)

A scientist with the ability to enter the subconscious minds of the possessed must save a young boy from the grips of a demon with powers never seen before, while facing the horrors of his past.

Director:

Brad Peyton

Writer:

Ronnie Christensen

Stars:

Aaron Eckhart, Carice van Houten, Catalina Sandino Moreno

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aaron Eckhart	...	Dr. Ember
Carice van Houten	...	Lindsey
Catalina Sandino Moreno	...	Camilla
David Mazouz	...	Cameron
Keir O'Donnell	...	Oliver
Matt Nable	...	Dan
Emily Jackson	...	Riley
Paul Vincent O'Connor	...	Priest
Natalija Nogulich	...	Maggie (in the Car)
John Pirruccello	...	Henry
Petra Sprecher	...	Homeless Woman
Breanne Hill	...	Ilsa
Emjay Anthony	...	Jake
Vanya Asher	...	Jogger
Karolina Wydra	...	Anna

Storyline

In New York, the boy Cameron lives with his Dutch mother Lindsey that is divorced from his alcoholic father Dan. One night, Cameron overhears a noise in the kitchen and is attacked by a homeless woman: however he kills the woman, breaking her neck. The Vatican representative Camilla summons the scientist Dr. Ember to help the boy that is possessed and the exorcism is not effective. Dr. Ember has the ability to enter in the mind of people possessed by demons and bring them back to reality in a dangerous procedure with the support of his team composed by Oliver and Riley. When Dr. Ember visits Cameron, he realizes that the boy is possessed by the insidious demon Maggie, who killed his wife and son in a car accident. Will Dr. Ember succeed in destroying Maggie and saving Cameron?

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Plot Keywords:

mother son relationship | possession | exorcism | wheelchair | homeless person | 

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Taglines:

Faith has failed us.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images, brief strong language, sensuality and thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Incarnate

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,534,884, 4 December 2016

Gross USA:

$4,799,774

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,341,855

Company Credits

Production Co:

IM Global, Blumhouse Productions, WWE Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aaron Eckhart and David Mazouz and Matt Nable all have been involved with Batman/ DC . Eckhart playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Dark Knight and Mazouz portraying young Bruce Wayne in Gotham. Nable playing Ra's al Ghul in Arrow.

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Goofs

After Eckhart's character falls onto the street, only one ambulance arrives to the scene. The people trying to revive him on the street are wearing white uniforms. But when it cuts to the scene inside the ambulance vehicle, the workers are wearing blue uniforms.

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Alternate Versions

Unrated DVD version contains much extra blood and some swearing that was edited out to earn a "PG-13" rating for theatrical release.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Incarnate/Rules Don't Apply (2016)

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Soundtracks

Sail
Written by Aaron Bruno (as Aaron R. Bruno)
Performed by AWOLNATION
Courtesy of Red Bull Records

User Reviews

Tries to be an action, tries to be a horror, fails at both

It started with an interesting twist on the concept of demons and possession:

What if demons are actual creatures? Only they're mental parasites that feed off the energy of their hosts. They pass to new hosts through touch and, having no body of their own to die of old age, are immortal as long as they jump to a new host before their old one dies, or are without a body for too long. To keep their host from ejecting them, they create an idealized inner fantasy to trap their victims in their own minds, distracting them from the fact that they've been invaded by a parasite. Based on this premise, any act that brings awareness to the possessed empowers them to dispel their demons. So, traditional exorcisms work, but therapeutic, scientific treatments are also effective.

Unfortunately, the execution of this concept is fumbling.

Stereotypical in a not-fun, but predictable and riddled with plot-holes way, the film tries to be action-y, but is too dull, and tries to be a horror, but isn't scary at all.

While not a truly horrible movie, most of the acting is over-done and the pacing thick with "hurry up and wait".

Enter Dr. Ember, our hero.

He's the surly, unwashed, Constantine-wannabe who uses science and a bad attitude to "evict" demons by entering their host's minds Inception-style and attempting to wake them up. Demon's know Dr. Ember by name and are out to get him personally.

For some reason.

I call Dr. Ember a Constantine-wannabe since his character is a pale copy of the iconic supernatural anti-hero, with all of the disgruntled grumble, but none of the charm or flash. The audience is left wondering why on earth demons think he's worth the time to bother.

The actor was going for gritty, but ended up seeming homeless.

The film's promises of scientific means for exorcism cop out when, though eased by the elaborate tech setup, Dr. Ember mainly relies on inborn supernatural talent to visit other's minds.

Once there, viewers will be disappointed in the mediocrity of the dreamscapes he visits.

In short, there are far, far better action, horror, and action- horror films to waste you time on, but if there is absolutely nothing else on, or you're intrigued by the unfulfilled concept, watching this won't be too painful.