Omeleto | CARL THE EXORCIST | Omeleto @Omeleto | Uploaded January 2024 | Updated October 2024, 9 hours ago.
A priest performs his first exorcism.
CARL THE EXORCIST is used with permission from Jordan McKittrick. Learn more at https://carltheexorcist.com.
The daughter of a terrified family has been possessed by the devil, and they call in a young priest named Carl for help. Father Carl is almost comically young and a little rusty on his exorcism skills, so he enlists the help of a "spiritual doula."
The problem, however, is that neither the young priest nor the spiritual doula know what they're doing -- and in fact, may just make the situation far worse because of it.
Directed and written by Jordan McKittrick, this amusing short takes the classic horror situation of an exorcism and gives it a "fish out of water" twist, playing up the comedic clash of a clueless priest facing the biggest challenge of his life with an equally hapless sidekick. While such a premise could easily go sideways, the film's richly stylized visuals, character-centered writing and ability to render genuine fear and suspense keep it an artful cinematic cocktail that amuses, surprises and frightens all at once.
Opening with a sequence of Carl psyching himself up for the exorcism as a rock song plays on the soundtrack, there's already a loose energy invoked. But that tone shifts as Carl awkwardly enters the situation of the worried family. When they confront the possessed daughter, things turn dark and suspenseful in both the visuals and tone. Though Carl and the doula retain their millennial goofiness, the daughter proves herself to be a force to be reckoned with -- much to Carl's chagrin. The horror element of the film is rendered with a relish for all the surreal mysticism and dark sorcery of the phenomenon, though Carl and his partner's haplessness always provides the opportunity to button scary moments with a dash of humor.
Actors Zach Tinker and Christina Wolfgram have daffy, pleasantly bumbling energy together, bringing a charming cluelessness that never quite gets a clue, despite the challenges in front of them. They have the feeling of characters that have been plonked into the wrong story, but in an effectively humorous way that underscores their incompetence. Any progress they make is actually due to luck -- though who knows how long that luck will hold.
Irreverent, funny and inventive, CARL THE EXORCIST is a wild ride of a short film, a high-wire act balancing between wildly disparate tones. But the mix of awkward humor and spooky horror makes for a fresh, entertaining story, one that is even strangely endearing. Carl may not be the best exorcist, but he's trying his hardest and not giving up --and his earnestness makes up for his ineptitude, sometimes.
A priest performs his first exorcism.
CARL THE EXORCIST is used with permission from Jordan McKittrick. Learn more at https://carltheexorcist.com.
The daughter of a terrified family has been possessed by the devil, and they call in a young priest named Carl for help. Father Carl is almost comically young and a little rusty on his exorcism skills, so he enlists the help of a "spiritual doula."
The problem, however, is that neither the young priest nor the spiritual doula know what they're doing -- and in fact, may just make the situation far worse because of it.
Directed and written by Jordan McKittrick, this amusing short takes the classic horror situation of an exorcism and gives it a "fish out of water" twist, playing up the comedic clash of a clueless priest facing the biggest challenge of his life with an equally hapless sidekick. While such a premise could easily go sideways, the film's richly stylized visuals, character-centered writing and ability to render genuine fear and suspense keep it an artful cinematic cocktail that amuses, surprises and frightens all at once.
Opening with a sequence of Carl psyching himself up for the exorcism as a rock song plays on the soundtrack, there's already a loose energy invoked. But that tone shifts as Carl awkwardly enters the situation of the worried family. When they confront the possessed daughter, things turn dark and suspenseful in both the visuals and tone. Though Carl and the doula retain their millennial goofiness, the daughter proves herself to be a force to be reckoned with -- much to Carl's chagrin. The horror element of the film is rendered with a relish for all the surreal mysticism and dark sorcery of the phenomenon, though Carl and his partner's haplessness always provides the opportunity to button scary moments with a dash of humor.
Actors Zach Tinker and Christina Wolfgram have daffy, pleasantly bumbling energy together, bringing a charming cluelessness that never quite gets a clue, despite the challenges in front of them. They have the feeling of characters that have been plonked into the wrong story, but in an effectively humorous way that underscores their incompetence. Any progress they make is actually due to luck -- though who knows how long that luck will hold.
Irreverent, funny and inventive, CARL THE EXORCIST is a wild ride of a short film, a high-wire act balancing between wildly disparate tones. But the mix of awkward humor and spooky horror makes for a fresh, entertaining story, one that is even strangely endearing. Carl may not be the best exorcist, but he's trying his hardest and not giving up --and his earnestness makes up for his ineptitude, sometimes.
