The Review (Spoiler Free)
“The Taking of Deborah Logan” is a 2014 horror film that delves into the terrifying realm of possession and the harrowing effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Directed by Adam Robitel, this found-footage film presents a chilling narrative that intertwines the supernatural with the all-too-real decline of mental health.
The movie follows Mia Medina (Michelle Ang) and her film crew as they document the daily life of Deborah Logan (Jill Larson), who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. As the filming progresses, it becomes evident that something far more sinister than the disease is afflicting Deborah. The film is anchored by Larson’s stunning performance, which brings a harrowing vulnerability to the character, making the audience’s journey through her deterioration all the more impactful.
Critics have praised the film for its smart use of the found-footage genre to explore themes of mental illness and for its refreshing inclusion of a low-key queer character. The film has been noted for its affecting performances and fully realized characters, which elevate it above many of its contemporaries in the horror genre. The presence of a strong emotional core, provided by the relationship between Deborah and her daughter Sarah (Anne Ramsay), adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making the supernatural elements all the more unsettling.
While the film does not shy away from the tropes of found-footage horror, it uses them to its advantage, creating a sense of realism and immediacy that draws the viewer into the story. The slow build-up of tension is masterfully executed, with moments of quiet dread that are more effective than any jump scare could be. The film’s subversion of standard possession tropes and its focus on the emotional plights of its characters have been highlighted as key strengths.
However, some critics have pointed out that the film falls prey to some of the common pitfalls of the found-footage format, particularly in the latter half where the narrative could have benefitted from a tighter execution. Despite this, “The Taking of Deborah Logan” stands out for its cautious and well-crafted approach to horror, driven by believable performances that earn it a respectable place in the genre.
Spoiler Ending (Spoiler Alert)
Deborah Logan has early stage of Alzheimer but she is also possessed by an evil spirit. The movie deals with concept of “spiritual parasite.” The idea is that a vengeful spirits is looking for human host and the weak minds are easily exploited by the spirit. Elderly person with disease and children are specially vulnerable to the evil spirit.
The story begins with local pediatrician named Desjardines. He is dying so he decided to gain immortality by performing a ritual that involves killing of incident little girls. In order to gain immortality, he needed to kill five girls. He was able to kill four girls, and the fifth girl supposed to be the daughter of Deborah, Sara. But Deborah’s good friend found out about it and he was able to kill Desjardines before he can harm Sara. The spirit of Desjardines is able to possess Deborah in order to complete the ritual by killing the fifth girl.
One thing you’ll noticed is that the movie has many references to snake. The ritual involves snakes and its venom. Also you’ll noticed that Deborah is slowly turning into a snake. It starts out with shedding of her skin, and at the end of the movie, she is about to swallow the little girl in the cave like a snake swallowing its prey. This is the shocking surprise at the end of the movie.
Fortunately, they were able to stop the spirit from killing the fifth girl by shooting at her. Also in order to free Deborah, they had to burn remaining of Desjardines’ body that they found in the attic of the house.
At the end, Desjardines was unable to finish the ritual using Deborah’s body, but he was able to possess the little girl’s body. It makes sense because the spiritual parasite can easily possess weak minds such as sick young child. Also if you notice, we didn’t see any bullet wounds on Deborah, but there is head wounds on the little girl. It is possible that they actually shot the little girl instead of Deborah which help Desjardines to take over little girl’s body. If you remember, little girl is a cancer patient. We are assuming that the spirit of Desjardines will continue to try to complete the ritual using little girl body to gain his immortality.
In the Nutshell
“The Taking of Deborah Logan” is a compelling horror film that successfully merges the psychological with the paranormal. It is a testament to the genre’s potential to tell stories that are as emotionally resonant as they are frightening. For those who appreciate horror with a thoughtful twist, this film is a must-watch, offering a unique take on the found-footage style and a haunting exploration of the human condition. I give 5 out of 5 stars.
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Genre: Found-footage / Demonic Possession
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