Agnes (Hayley McFarland) is suddenly inhabited by a demonic force in the opening frames of the film. She is speaking in tongues, lashing out, and cursing loudly at her fellow Nuns at a remote strict convent. The order is so adherent to rote that it's a major act to let two men into the building al be it that the men are Father Donahue (Ben Hall) a veteran priest on set away from permanent banishment due to past acts and a neophyte Benjamin (Jake Horowitz) who has not taken his vows who is seen as a particular threat by the Mother superior. The Priest at first going on the description of the events see this as a potential medical issue but upon meeting with and attempting to exorcise the visitor find that the presence is too powerful for them and resort to call in some backup.
Rising Indie director Mickey Reece takes a bit of a mickey out on the religious possession genre in the opening portion of the film. The nuns are shown as following rules that are highly out of step with modern society with a select few straying from the path when out of view and range of Mother. Agnes' closest friend Mary (Molly C. Quinn) is an interesting study having come to the order later in life after the real world tragedy of losing a son. Agnes has also suffered the loss of a loved one which gives the pair a ready made connection. Reece turns up his sarcastic lense as Father Donahue turns to Hollywood cool TV ready Father Black (Chris Browning) to come in for the save. Mother is totally appalled Father Black's meeting with Agnes is catastrophic the as sudden as the film started events take a sharp turn to focus on Mary who has left the Convent after the botched exorcism and is now working retail as a cashier.
Reece again shows that he is willing to chase after a narrative anywhere it lies be it unconventional or even jarring to his audience who had settled into a particular style of film to have that level of comfort upended for something completely different. Molly C Quinn plays Mary completely understated a kid of outie observer into her own life. An Angus link pops up again as Mary begins to spend time with stand-up comic Paul (Sean Gunn) an ex of her friend. Quinn is effective in both sections of the film inside and outside of the convent. Ben Hall is equally as compelling in the first section of the film. He is the veteran priest who though an earlier misstep or misunderstanding has taken to his flask more than his bible and is well aware that he is a target for banishment by senior church administrators. Mary Buss is deep into character as Mother Superior. Her number one goal is to protect her charges from evil outside temptations. Her reactions to the ground shifting under her feet as events unfold around Agnes' possession are priceless especially her nonverbal body and facial contortions and movements behind her spectacles.
Agnes may be the project that brings writer-director Mickey Reece more into the mainstream. His take on the church it's traditions rules,and bureaucracy morphs into a study of loss and isolation and how people deal with both. Anchored by a quiet yet commanding performance by Molly C. Quinn in completely opposite settings it's a film I can recommend and likely one that will be remembered as a launching point for a future top-level storyteller.
***1/2 Out of 4
Agnes | Mickey Reece | U.S.A. | 2021 | 93 Minutes.
Tags: Convent, Possession, Exorcism, Sexual Misconduct, Neophyte,Temptation, Cashier, Loss, Regret.
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