Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » Fantastic Fest 2019: ‘The Cleansing Hour’ is Possession Horror Gold

Fantastic Fest 2019: ‘The Cleansing Hour’ is Possession Horror Gold

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez09/21/20194 Mins ReadUpdated:08/22/2022
The Cleansing Hour
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Cleansing Hour

There are a lot of possession movies out there, so many in fact, that unless they’re superb they tend to get lost in the repetitiveness of lowered voices, projectile vomit, and cursing at priests. So, when I walked into the world premiere of The Cleansing Hour, I expected to see a standard possession romp that blended into the background. But by the time the 94-minutes was up I was floored by the detail, creativity, and horror gold that director Damien LeVeck put into this film.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The Cleansing Hour stands head and shoulders above American-made films that have come out in the possession genre in recent years. It’s imaginative, comedic, and uses disturbing details to bring to life amazing practical effect that throw-back to body horror classics. In The Cleansing Hours, we follow two millennial entrepreneurs, Max (Ryan Guzman) and Drew (Kyle Gallner), who run a popular webcast that streams “live exorcisms.” Having built a social media and streaming empire, the two have relied on elaborately staged hoaxes to pull in millions all while peddling fake Vatican Blessed cloths along the way. But, when Drew’s fiancée becomes mysteriously possessed by a real demon, the crew becomes its hostage and the best friends’ sins come to light in front of a rapidly growing global audience. Now, these aren’t just ordinary confessions, oh no, the demon subjects the crew to a series of violent and humiliating challenges that expose their sins, secrets, and pull in server-breaking audience size.

What makes The Cleansing Hour all the more entertaining is the use of cuts to audiences watching in their daily lives and the inclusion of an onscreen chat which, as LeVeck pointed out during his post-film Fantastic Fest Q&A, was all generated by his friends who watched the film. By balancing reactions that run the gamut from those concerned for the lives in the livestream to those trolling, this layer of social interaction does a lot to give the film dimension beyond your typical possession film. In addition, the immense amount of detail given to every effect feels real on film and showcases the power of the practical effects. From burnt skin sticking to surfaces, skin falling from a demon’s back, and light dismemberment The Cleansing Hour is a film sure to hit body horror lovers right in their deep dark hearts.

The only fault with the film lies in its use of slang by the young PA who is clearly from a world unattached to our main characters and LeVeck’s making her dialogue seem forced at points. That being said, every other member of the cast has dialogue that fits their identities in an authentic way that allows the relationships to fill with a natural chemistry that works not only in their happy moments but in the moments where they are being torn apart.

Even with one bad performance, it’s the film’s stars and the care put into every inch of their characters that makes The Cleansing Hour a true horror winner. As Father Max, Guzman brings emotion in his portrayal of not only someone who was hurt by religion and turned a profit from it, but also as a character who desperately wants to do good in spite of his faults. He is both someone you want to hate and someone you want to comfort, which is no easy feat.

But, the film’s true star is non-other than Alix Angelis who plays the character of Lane, the possessed girlfriend. In a physically demanding role, Angelis delivers a performance that stands out at the top of its kind. It’s dark and irreverent without becoming campy. Her ability to contort her face and body while shackled to a chair is as deeply chilling as it is captivating.

Covered in blood and commanding the room, Angelis’ ability to hold the scene while she simply stared was amazing. In addition, the voice work done to make the demon’s voice is well beyond anything I’ve heard in years. There is a quality of gravel and a rot within possessed Lane’s voice that is truly terrifying. Plus, the sound designer’s mixing of Tara Karsian‘s voice with Angelis’ own is so seamless I believed that Angelis was making it on her own.

Overall, The Cleansing Hour is a film that hits so hard and unexpectedly that it makes you push back in your seat. As you watch the narrative twist like a possessed girl’s body it engages you with superb creature designs and practical effects while making you laugh with its dark humor that puts a mirror up to how we all behave online.

The Cleansing Hour is available now on Shudder.

The Cleansing Hour
  • 8/10
    Rating - 8/10
8/10

TL;DR

The Cleansing Hour is a film that hits so hard and unexpectedly that it makes you push back in your seat. As you watch the narrative twist like a possessed girl’s body it engages you with superb creature designs and practical effects while making you laugh with its dark humor that puts a mirror up to how we all behave online.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Borderlands 3’ Is One of the Best Borderlands Games (PS4)
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Xena: Warrior Princess,’ Issue #6
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

The Old Guard 2
5.5

REVIEW: ‘The Old Guard 2’ Is Distracted And Half-Baked

07/02/2025
Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey in Jurassic World: Rebirth
5.5

REVIEW: ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ Is Best When Nobody Is Talking

06/30/2025
MEGAN 2.0 promotional image
7.0

REVIEW: ‘M3GAN 2.0’ Puts Action First

06/29/2025
F1 (2025) promotional key art
8.0

REVIEW: ‘F1’ Is A High-Octane Blockbuster

06/24/2025
KPop Demon Hunters Promotional image form Netflix
9.0

REVIEW: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Brings Beautiful Animation And An Even Better Message

06/20/2025
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later
8.5

REVIEW: ’28 Years Later’ Is How Franchises Should Return

06/18/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer First Look Image From Prime Video News

Prime Video Unleashes Teaser for Prequel Series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

By Kate Sánchez07/04/2025

The first Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer was released today by Prime Video. The series…

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here