Pesky priests and diabolical demon type shenanigans are the fare here as good old priest Ben Cross is sent in to end the antics of a demonic force which has been praying upon sinners. And there's a rubbery looking monster to round things off!

It's got sin, sex, tits, nudity, demons - and Blue! Yep, Blue, and the capitalization is deliberate not because it's a hound dog named Blue. Many scenes are shot with a blue tinge to them that becomes really irritating after a while. Still, it could have been worse. It could have been Orange - a constant reminder of the ISP who delivered me the most atrocious service possible and who deserve to be banned from ever operating a telecoms company again.

The cast do a very good job here, all delivering good performances, but are let down somewhat by the awkward script and curious directorial decisions. At its heart the story is a solid enough tale of demonic corruption and the sins which lurk within the hearts of all men - including priests who will often lift their cassocks when offered any available hole.

Effects are generally good, and the way events unfolded had me thinking of some of the novels by William Peter Blatty (the Exorcist) meeting Jay Ansons tales (Amityville, 666) and mixing in a bit of Clive Barkers Hellraiser. Although the direction is a little clumsy the plot is essentially solid and wins through at the end of the day, no doubt in good part due to the convincing performances on screen from all concerned.

It certainly isn't a film to rank up there with a classic like Exorcist, but it is a nice helping of demonic tomfoolery that is enjoyable to watch and has been unjustly slated from many quarters. What lets it down most is the execution, which does in places feel forced, and the overuse of Blue to create the mood. I guess hell isn't hot, it must be a cold blue.

As it stands, this is one of those films that could have been so much more, and probably - am I really going to say this? - would benefit from a remake to correct some of the mistakes made. I don't believe I just said that, but in this rare instance I reckon that a remake is justified. Well worth checking out as it is though, it's a good effort.

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