Film Review: 'The Edict'

Jessi and Kevin Anderson (Freya Saxon and Dionysius Akeem) have been through a lot together, with Kevin staying by Jessi's side during her struggle with debilitating mental health issues. Now, in the wake of Kevin's uncle Frank's unexpected suicide, Jessi and Kevin have moved into the man's home for what they hope will be a fresh start.

But soon after arriving in the house, Jessi begins to experience terrifying nightmares and hallucinations that push her to the brink of her already frayed sanity, convincing her doctor she needs to be institutionalized. Not content to abandon his wife, Kevin begins working with Jessi to find the root of her mental collapse—which may not only be linked to their new home, but also the mysterious circumstances surrounding Frank's death. Can Jessi and Kevin uncover the answers before Jessi's mind is destroyed forever?

After reading that synopsis, you wouldn't be judged harshly for believing The Edict is a carbon copy of every horror movie centering around a couple moving into a house and experiencing frightening events. To separate itself from the plethora of indie horror movies using oft-used plot formulas, however, The Edict culminates a surreal mood for itself that permeates throughout the film—while at the same time, grounding itself enough to where it never goes into the "artsy for the sake of being artsy, coherent plot be damned" territory that the indie film market has often been associated with.

This mood building allows for The Edict to remain an entertaining watch, even though the plot is very calculated and slow in its pace; the surreal and eerie mood is so thick, you'll stay engaged throughout these slow parts, awaiting to discover the next piece of the puzzle of what is happening to Jessi, and how it's connected to the house. The film also wisely peppers these slow parts with dramatic interludes, which not only help develop more intrigue, but keep The Edict's slow pace from escalating into boredom for the viewer, and allows for the dramatic conclusion to come as much more of a shock.

This is all expertly held up by The Edict's strong cast, with Freya Saxon and Dionysius Akeem making for an authentic and sympathetic couple. While the first act gives the pair little time to develop their relationship, Jessi's descent into madness proves to be the inciting incident into displaying Kevin and Jessi's deep love and devotion towards one another, and how dedicated they are to saving Jessi's sanity, and (by extension) their bond. Saxon and Akeem shine as the second and third act explores their dynamic, with Akeem and Parris Knight (who plays Kevin's best friend Jimmy) sharing a strong emotional scene together where they discuss Jessi's breakdown, and how Kevin refuses to abandon his wife when she needs him most.

Saxon, however, is definitely a showstopper as Jessi, playing her transition from a woman working to overcome her demons to a volatile and mentally unstable wreck with equal parts over-the-top zeal and heartbreaking emotion. Saxon's performance when her deteriorating health leads her to begin lashing out at others and herself are expertly delivered by Saxon, with one scene where she has a back-and-forth confrontation with her reflection being her highlight moment of the film. Saxon also plays Jessi with the right mixture of strength, vulnerability, and sympathy to make her a well-rounded main character—which makes her mental decline all the more devastating.

The Edict's deliberate pacing will turn off those coming into it expecting a high-octane thriller, and while the film's use of music is often used to solid dramatic effect, there are times when the music feels unnecessary and occasionally outright intrusive. There's a personal gripe I have with the film's otherwise excellent conclusion.

SPOILER ALERT While the film seemed to be building up the possessed statue as an allegory for mental illness as a whole, rather than a true source of a demonic presence, the film ultimately ends with the definitive confirmation that it is in fact possession that is behind Jessi's mental collapse. It would've been a lot more unique and thought-provoking to end the conclusion on an ambiguous note; leaving the audience wondering if there was truly supernatural beings responsible for what happened, or if it was simply a tragic case of a woman being unable to fight off her inner demons. SPOILERS OVER

Aside from that personal complaint, The Edict remains a captivating drama that has a lot to offer those willing to adjust to the film's sense of pacing: a strong mystery and atmosphere, well-developed characters played by excellent actors, and a powerful ending that ends on a truly terrifying prospect. With a tense storyline behind it, The Edict is the ideal film to watch on a dark night when you're ready for a good fright.

Score: 9 out of 10 disrespectful support group members.