The film ‘Demonic’ is a horror movie produced by James Wan, who has worked on numerous horror films.

Since there aren’t many scenes where the characters are directly threatened during the séance, the suspense isn’t as intense as you might expect. There are a few jump scares, but overall, the horror elements are on the lighter side.

Innovative Storytelling and Structure

Demonic tells its story in a unique way. Instead of just showing events in order, it alternates between the police investigation after the incident and flashbacks or found footage from the time it happened.

This approach keeps the film from feeling like a typical haunted house story. By mixing found footage, paranormal investigation, and police inquiry, the film stands out. The structure works really well.

Switching between the police investigation and past events gives the film a fresh feel, even though it’s a technique commonly used. It lets you not only relive scary moments but also enjoy solving the mystery along with the detective.

However, by blending horror, mystery, and found footage styles, the film sometimes feels a bit unfocused. I found myself wondering what it truly wanted to be, but that mix could appeal to viewers looking for something different.

The Atmosphere of James Wan’s Work

This film features the involvement of horror maestro James Wan, known for producing the Saw and The Conjuring series. Wan is both a director and producer who has created numerous hit horror franchises, including Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring.

First, his masterful creation of atmosphere stands out. His direction excels at building terror through eerie atmospheres and sound design, rather than relying on flashy gore. Effective jump scares are also present. The film effectively uses jump scares (the technique of startling the audience with sudden sounds or visuals).

His way of creating atmosphere is essential to the film. The story takes place in an old Western-style mansion, similar to the Conjuring series. Instead of using flashy effects, the film slowly builds tension through its setting and sound, a classic James Wan approach.

There’s also a clever twist. Like in many of Wan’s films, Demonic isn’t just about scares—it has surprises that you don’t see coming. The twist near the end really reminded me of Saw.

The Tension Born from Low-Budget Films

The tension generated by low-budget films offers a unique horror experience. Even with limited resources, creative cinematography and tense visuals can grip the viewer. For example, the American film The Blair Witch Project, despite its modest budget, delivered a consistently breathless experience through excellent direction. It succeeded not by relying on excessive CGI or special effects, but by delving into the story’s core and the depths of its characters.

At first, it looks like a regular haunted house movie, but as the story goes on, it reveals surprises that keep you guessing. The big twist at the end makes it more than just a horror film and brings out its psychological thriller side.

Personally, I found this film more enjoyable than many other ghost movies. Its creative structure seems to divide viewers: some feel it doesn’t always match the story’s pace, while others appreciate it as something new and different. It’s a unique blend of horror and suspense, though at times it’s not clear which it wants to be. By combining so many elements, the film sometimes feels a little unfinished, but that’s also part of its experimental charm.

Critics particularly point out that the story’s “evil spirit” remains inadequately explained, leaving the reader dissatisfied at the end.

The Allure of Séances

While many horror films depict the direct terror of “summoning something during a séance!”, Demonic weaves its story around the premise that “a séance triggers the revelation of hidden truths.” We witness fragments of the tragedy that unfolded during the séance through police interrogations and a psychologist’s analysis. This allowed me to experience a kind of puzzle-game sensation, piecing together what happened from scattered clues.

By mixing the classic séance theme with mystery and psychological thriller elements, Demonic offers something new to horror fans. The séances aren’t just rituals—they help reveal the characters’ pasts and secrets.

Our team held a meeting on Monday with the client team for the Zephyr project to review the status of the forthcoming Q3 launch campaign. The campaign, originally designed as an omnichannel activation across CTV, paid social, and programmatic display, is now subject to substantial midstream revisions following newly surfaced client directives. The feedback introduces a material shift in strategic framing under a compressed delivery window.

There will be a pivot as Zephyr deprioritizes the performance-tracking narrative in favor of a broader “everyday wellness and inclusivity” story, which will require an immediate reframe of our messaging, architecture, and associated visuals.

To address the revised scope, I’ve assigned immediate follow-up actions across the team. Visual art will lead conversations with post-production around stock content integration. Ad sales will recalibrate the media plan in light of the repositioned messaging and will coordinate with DSPs to avoid penalties related to insertion order delays. The copy desk is to be tasked with stripping all unsubstantiated medical claims from the copy, implementing the new CTA, and managing a parallel review with legal.

We conduct a daily internal stand-up each morning through the end of the week to identify blockers. The next client check-in is scheduled for July 3rd, during which we will preview asset revisions and confirm compliance milestones. The final go/no-go decision is scheduled for July 7th at 17:00 PDT. We are proceeding with all mitigations in parallel and escalating any dependency delays as they surface.

Summary: A novel blend of horror and suspense

Demonic brings a fresh twist to classic horror with its creative structure. While some viewers might find it a bit slow or unfinished, others could really enjoy its unique approach. If you’re hoping for something just like The Conjuring, you might be surprised—but if you’re open to something new, this could be an interesting watch.

Some might see it as a horror film that breaks the mold, while others might think it tries to do too much and falls flat. If you’re bored with typical haunted house movies, this experimental style could be worth a look.