MENENDEZ, EL DIA DEL SENOR, PARTE 1/ MENENDEZ: THE DAY OF THE LORD, PART 1.

Spain, 2020, 93 minutes, Colour.
Juli Fabregas, Hector Illanes, Delores Heredia, Ximena Romo.
Directed by Santiago Alvarado.

Since the 1970s, especially with The Exorcist and its sequels, there have been many films, variation on William Friedkin's film, variations, parodies, explorations of horror and demonic possession.

This film is more modest. It takes place over three days, culminating on Sunday, the day of the Lord.

The film begins provocatively, a tantalising sexual dream and the priest, Menendez, waking in dread. In his dreams, there is an indication that he is responsible for the death of a boy. He has been in prison, the newspaper saying that he was the victim as well as the boy being a victim. He is now released, living alone in a vast house, full of antiquarian detail.

A woman comes in to clean the house, Marisa, obviously devoted to the priest but, she appears provocatively in his dreams, and she is the mother of the dead boy, the audience realising that he did not survive an exorcism. It appears that Menendez has had a priestly career as an exorcist.

He is visited by an old friend, a former drug addict, who comes to renew acquaintance and friendship but, especially, to plead to Menendez to perform an exorcism on his daughter. Reluctantly, the priest agrees, and the father comes with his daughter leaving her in the house.

Menendez methods of exorcism are not exactly those familiar from the previous films. At a meal, he seems to be leading the young woman on, and turns on her, beginning a series of psychological and physical confrontations, the use of physical violence which may seem to some audiences extreme. The process takes a long time. However, the Demon starts to manifest itself in the behaviour of the young woman, in her words, and her attack on the priest. He continues his harsh treatment of her which frightens his friend when he returns to see how the exorcism is progressing. The friend is given several texts to read during the ritual but falters, compassion for the physical state of his daughter. However, she turns on him, provocative sexual assaults which distress her father.

The woman and the Demon get the better of the priest and her father, tying them up. However, the priest does get loose which sets up a final violent confrontation. It is successful and the father is able to take home is daughter, looking so frail and diminished after the self-assertion and violence she manifested while possessed.

Menendez receives various phone calls  ad, at the end, there is a mystery about the calls, seemingly God on the other end of the line.

The film has the title of Part 1 but in the careers of the director and the actors, there is, as yet, no indication of the making of Part 2.

1. An exorcism film? The traditions of the films? A Spanish version? 21st century? On a small scale compared with other films?

2. The setting, the Spanish town, the priest's house, interiors, the different floors? The musical score and tone?

3. The title, the indication of Part 1, no indication of production of Part 2?

4. The credibility of the plot, the priest himself and his vocation, his ministry, his skills as an exorcist, his conviction, prison, living in retirement? The three days in the culmination on Sunday, the day of the Lord?

5. His dreams? The sexual content? Marisa, provocative? Her dead son? The priest and his crime? Audiences later realising that it was a failed exorcism? Marisa as the boy's mother?

6. The priest, living alone, the issues of his faith, the phone calls and the encouragement to faith and action? Drinking? Resolution is not to drink? Marisa coming to work, the priest saying it was not necessary? The resolve of living alone?

7. The visit of Sebas, the past, his drug addiction, friendship with the priest? His coming for discussion, the revelation about his daughter, his being convinced she was possessed, requesting Menendez help? Menendez reluctant, relenting?

8. The continued dreams and their effect on Menendez?

9. Sebas, bringing his daughter, her age, contemporary, earphones and music, friends and phone calls? Sexuality and the touch of the seductive? Curiosity about the priest? Her father leaving her there? Settling in, wanting to go out?

10. The effect of her presence on Menendez, his decision to do the exorcism, his past career, religious garb, religious effects, candles¦? Raquel and her response, initial mockery, certain curiosity? The meal together, the conversation, his leading her on, her being relaxed, his turning on her, physical attack? The beginning of the ritual?

11. The details of the ritual, Menendez and his judgement, the physical interventions, the touches of violence? Raquel and her response? The manifestations of the Demon, her voice, comments, taunts?

12. Sebas coming back, his promise to Menendez, the texts and his reading them? Menendez and his violence, Raquel and the physical injuries, Sebas and his wanting to intervene?

13. The detailed visualising of the exorcism? The Demon and the violence in Raquel, the tables turned, the two men tied up? Raquel and the sexual assault on her father, his desperation and reaction? Menendez getting loose? The reversal of roles? Sebas unconscious? The manifestation of the Demon? The memories of the past exorcism, the boy who died?

14. Phone calls, Menendez alone, the call, the discovery that the phone was not connected? God's intervention?

15. Menendez finally overcoming the Demon? Raquel, looking pitiful, taken away by her father?

16. What would be in a part 2?