You might call it a black "Exorcist" film with the only white person hanging around being, Glenn Close. Close has been possessed by the demons of Russell Crowe and Nicolas Cage (viz. "The Pope's Exorcist" and "Renfield") in a performance which is brave, unflattering, and bananas. Close has never been shy to experiment with different roles and I applaud her choices. What's this film all about? It revolves around Ebony (Andra Day) and her three kids and her white mother, Alberta (Close) who have all moved into yet another new house. Ebony, a single mother, struggles with alcohol, anger, and regular check-ins from her social worker (Mo'Nique). Ebony is trying to keep it together. Her youngest, Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins) starts to uncharacteristically act out at school by doing some very unsavory things. We know how exorcism stories go, it's the house! GET OUT! Ha. Well, things go quickly from bad to worse and we get some pedestrian ghostly stuff. Here is the thing, this film would be great on its own without the added possession story, as a portrait of a family trying to survive in modern America. The Exorcist stuff doesn't bring it down - it's kind of like, the meal comes with dessert. So there you have it. Catch it now this Halloween season, streaming on Netflix.
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