at least the ending wasn't a total cliche!

I'm so glad you posted this. I was about to do the same, until I saw what you wrote. I figured that the main chick would survive in the end as what usually happens in horror films. But then I couldn't figure out why the priest guy chose the two chicks for sacrifice and not the dude. That had me scratching my head until later on when I realized that they could tell that he did not have the curse. That's why the chicks had to be killed and why he was sent out to dig a grave I suppose. Definitely a refreshing twist to the usual way these kinds of movies play out.

I have to agree. The usual horror plot is the girl who is essential responsible for putting everyone in danger lives, while everyone else dies. And of course character like the guy, who have reason and constantly say lets leave, die. Here, she dies, and he lives. Kudos.

Regarding the mask, I assume it was part of the ritual, ie they had to be killed with the mask, as it was holy or something, it had the cross on it. My only question was why did the possessed people see others as demons.

I thought you were going to say: showing the image of the statue and giving some half-explanation for the mystery, wasn't a total cliche.

Fully agree. Not only did the guy survive, but he was actually smart enough to help the locals kill Carmen. When they needed him to hold her head down, I thought for sure he would do that inner-struggle thing and be like "I can't let you kill her, she's my girlfriend!" But instead he didn't follow movie cliche and he actually helped. Well done ending.

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I guess its just a pet peeve, but I'm a little bummed when imdb posters act like they only relate to these seemingly "perfect" characters that are logical and aren't ruled by emotion, since aren't humans often emotional, illogical creatures? Makes us who we are. People criticize horror characters for making stupid decisions, but I don't know, sometimes I'll think of something I would have done differently, but most of the time I'm so immersed in the story, putting myself in the characters' shoes, suspending disbelief, that whatever they decide seems understandable, given the situation. How do any of us truly know what we'd do in a hypothetical situation until we're actually in it?

You can say they should have all left at the first sign of danger, but they had no reason (there's that word) to think things were as bad as they were with the demonic curse, sacrifices, etc. If I traveled all that way, I'd want to find out something before heading back. I thought you guys were all about idolizing courage and bravery, too And yes, it would suck if your girlfriend lost her job (though I agree it was crummy of her not to be honest with her bf or boss, but that's her character) - can't remember if they were living together and had bills to pay, but...if you thought she was bitchy before... ;-)


"Its only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."

I love how people are saying it went against cliche that the guy lived, a character that was so rational and level headed, but isn't making the guy the rational one a bit cliche itself (and I say that as a dude)? You all seem to think he was a saint (at least compared to his girlfriend), but by saving her initially, he indirectly caused the deaths of multiple Protectors including the main one. Sure, you can say he thought they were evil at the time, but I'm surprised he just kind of left (and they let him leave) at the end with no sense of guilt. Oh wait, guilt's an emotion, so you wouldn't understand ;-)

Plus no anger from the young, new lead Protector at the guy's Dad now being dead (they said in the Commentary they were father and son). Talk about selfless - you must really idolize him then ;-) That could have been a decent last minute twist at the end, some rule about how, if you kill the head Protector, you must stay and become one yourself. Could be cheesy, but at least have something to show his actions of saving the girl (good intentioned as they were) had consequences and he couldn't get away scott free. To keep the ending in line with the dark tone of the rest of the movie.

Oh, and you think hesitating before choosing to end or help end someone's life is only a "movie cliche"? I know we're only supposed to be logical like Vulcans on the internet, head over heart and all that, but man...some of you... Sucks to be your girlfriend if she gets possessed by a demon...just kill her, don't even bother trying exorcism, eh? ;-) /Rant


"Its only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."