High School Exorcism, Satan and the SAT

It has the primal horror of "Sixteen Candles" and the hilarity of "The Exorcist," 2014's "High School Exorcism."  Wait...I know what you are thinking...this is not what you may think it is.  First of all, Kelly Hu and Ione Skye are sultry as moms of teens in this one. Their performances aren't mere cameos, either. Also, a bevy of sultry high school gals grace our feature.  They'll engage in catfights and...exorcisms! Stop laughing. Really!  When you watch this film there will be no laughing or witty banter.  It will be ominous and depressing...and a bit more than you originally expected. 

High school beauty, and athlete, Chloe (Jennifer Stone) has been suspended from the team for anger issues.  Her temper is bloodying opponents on the field.  She's acting out as her mom (Skye) and dad have recently separated.  Her best buddy Laura (Janel Parrish) writes for the school paper.  Laura's latest story is about a bunch of her babe classmates involved in a church Bible study.  She goes to the Bible study with her buddy Olivia (Shanley Caswell).  At first skeptical, Laura is impressed with the group, called "The Chosen."  They are interesting and well adjusted teens concerned with service and charity...what could be wrong with that?  Funny you should ask.

By accident Laura witnesses The Chosen and their reverend (William McNamara) performing an exorcism on a young lady.  Okay...weird.  Uh oh...Chloe continues to sink into desperation, anti-social behavior,  cutting, and violent angry tendencies.  Now Chloe is unrecognizable...maybe she needs an exorcism?  Olivia is all too happy to introduce Chloe and Laura to her Reverend.  Uh oh...the meeting doesn't go as you would expect.  No matter...why waste the opportunity for a good exorcism?  Olivia is game.  As Chloe continues to sink, and cuts some more, Laura thinks so too...and so does her mom. What happens is surprising and changes the thrust of the film.  After all...the devil that you know is preferable than the devil that you don't.

Does Chloe need an exorcism?  What are Olivia's true motivations?  Should teenage beauties be counted on for anything?  There will be catfights...and that is good.  Don't kid yourself...there is no "John Hughes" aspect about this film.  Depressing and at times hard to watch as we find out Satan may not be the villain here.  See "High School Exorcism," directed by Peter Sullivan, and listen carefully to a good sermon this Sunday.