This Little-Known, 2022 Horror Thriller Turned the Exorcism Story Inside Out

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For small filmmakers just starting out or established studios looking for a reliable way to earn a substantial profit with a minimal budget, one wise choice is to produce a horror film. Unlike other genres, horror movies tend to be inexpensive to create; their success isn’t contingent on costly A-list actors or state-of-the-art special effects; and what’s most crucial, horror enthusiasts have consistently shown a robust determination to support even the lowest-budget frightening films.

Many hopeful performers and innovators often kickstart their careers in the broader film world by appearing in a few initial horror films, and this is the setting for the origins of “Devil’s Workshop,” now streaming on Peacock. The series gradually builds its chilling supernatural narrative with Radha Mitchell, known for her role in “Pitch Black,” sharing the screen with Emile Hirsch (from “Savages” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and Timothy Granaderos, a veteran actor from “13 Reasons Why.” It offers a carefully-crafted glimpse into the tormented minds of actors struggling for success, showcasing their desperate measures – or lack thereof – to finally reach that elusive breakthrough.

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Exorcising the slacker within: Radha Mitchell’s role in Devil’s Workshop

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Released in 2022, the movie “Devil’s Workshop” primarily focuses on psychological aspects within its psych-horror genre for about 86 minutes, then unexpectedly switches to full-blown supernatural horror. Before this dramatic change, it provides a tense and insightful look into the lives of struggling actors whose laid-back lifestyle consistently hinders their dreams of success in acting, even when they firmly believe that their big opportunity is imminent.

In this film, Clayton, a 35-year-old actor grappling with the lingering trauma from his childhood family tragedy, takes on the leading role. He responds to an audition for a low-budget horror production titled “Psychic Highway“. As the story unfolds, he competes for the lead part against one other actor – Donald, portrayed by Hirsch, who is a boastful stoner with an inflated sense of self-worth. Donald’s arrogant behavior and entitled attitude towards success earn him a handful of sycophantic admirers while alienating most others.

In the limited time they had before their final audition for the desired character, a demonologist, Donald and Clayton chose distinct approaches to prepare. Donald opted for a more relaxed method, staying at his friend Nikki’s (Sarah Coffey) house, which he described as a cozy stoner’s den. There, he combined casual acting practices with drinking games involving shots. On the other hand, Clayton took a more serious route, placing an ad online to find a genuine demonologist who could provide him with a swift tutorial on the true nature of the darker aspects of theology before the audition date.

Mitchell’s character, Eliza – an elderly actor transformed into a spiritual explorer – makes her appearance. Upon opening the door at her secluded countryside farmhouse, it becomes evident that Clayton must overcome his habitual adolescent social anxieties if he desires to interact with someone as authentic as Eliza. She is genuinely convinced of the existence of demons; she is well-versed in the terminology and folklore surrounding exorcism, and she has no patience for the timid politeness that often hinders someone like Clayton. If he wishes to learn about real demons, she argues, he must first eliminate the symbolic ones residing within himself – a process which, as it happens, often blurs the line between what’s metaphorical and what’s genuine.

Mitchell is fascinating to observe, portraying an eccentric and utterly self-assured spirit medium whose indomitable spirit swiftly overpowers Clayton’s initial bewilderment. It doesn’t take long before she has him uttering mysterious Latin phrases and standing in front of a restrained goat while wielding a butcher’s knife; these are part of her preparatory rituals for an imminent exorcism spectacle, which she claims will free him from the heavy emotional burdens that have been hindering his professional growth.

If Devil’s Workshop had adhered to that thought process throughout its fictional narrative, it might have garnered a bit more attention – particularly considering the excellent performances delivered by Granaderos, Hirsch, and especially Mitchell. However, the film takes an unforeseen twist in its final moments, ending abruptly with a shocking, twisted outburst inside Eliza’s eerie exorcism chamber.

The film’s chilling climax offers a terrifyingly gruesome backdrop, filled with burned flesh, exposed tendons, and a borderline incestuous love scene that might cause viewers to question where Eliza draws the boundary between traditional motherhood and demonic romance. Without giving too much away, it’s also a deeply demonic explosion that not all will be able to escape unscathed… Although it does provide the kind of payoff desired by at least one character, it may leave you pondering whether the film’s earlier plotlines ultimately hold any significant meaning in the grand scheme.

In a low-budget horror movie like “Devil’s Workshop”, the true reward isn’t found in where the plot ultimately takes us, but rather in the overall experience. The film’s TikTok-style ending sequence hints at this during its closing credits, implying that it’s the kind of movie where everyone, consciously or unconsciously, experiences a loss – even (or maybe even more so) those who seem to be drifting complacently towards an unaware future.

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2025-02-25 22:31