GODLESS: THE EAST FIELD EXORCISM

Australia, 2023, 91 minutes, Colour.

Georgia Eyers, Dan Ewing, Tim Pocock, Rosie Traynor, John Wood, Eliza Matengu.

Directed by Nick Kozakis.

This is an interesting, small-budget exorcism film. Filmed in Victoria, Daylesford and Hepburn’s Springs, it is based on an actual story that took place in western Victoria, Antwerp, north of Dimboola, in 1993.

After seeing and the film, it is well worthwhile googling the true story to find how accurate, in so many ways, this fictional version is.

Exorcism became very popular in cinema with 1973’s The Exorcist, then its sequels, its prequel is, and the many imitations, some very serious, some parodies. There have been Catholic exorcism films, Protestant exorcism films, Evangelical exorcism films.

The setting for this film is an Evangelical country community, led by an enthusiastic woman, Barbara (Rosie Traynor), some opening scenes of vigorous prayer and enthusiasm. One of the congregation is Ron, Dan Ewing, a farmer, more recently married, concerned about his wife, Lara (Georgia Eyers). They are seeing a therapist, Lara anxious, then rather sceptical – and there are a number of sequences with discussions against medication, vaccines, anti-fluoride, scepticism of science and medication.

Lara begins to manifest strange behaviour, dancing motions, naked, but also with some hallucinatory experiences, memories of the past, and some diabolical manifestations. Barbara recommends Daniel King (Tim Pocock), an Evangelical exorcist, not beholden to the Vatican or other authorities.

Ron is wary but accedes to an exorcism. Daniel is rather smug, self-centred, equating himself with God in his power to cast out Demons. The exorcism scenes are vivid, Daniel physically brutal and assaulting Lara, psychological bullying, God-focused demands that the Demons come out of her. Many of the local church are invited to be present and to pray.

Later in the film, there are flashbacks to explain Lara’s condition, an accident, did child and husband.

Ultimately, Daniel is so violent that Lara dies. And he then switches the experience into a hoped-for resurrection, that she will rise from the dead. The local police (John Wood from Blue Healers) comes to the scene along with the therapist. When Lara does not rise again, Daniel’s interpretation is that it is better for her to be alive with God rather than suffering on earth.

Final information concerns the rest of the principals, their trials, suspended sentences – which correspond with what happened to the protagonists in the experiences of 1993.

1. Based on a true story, episodes in western Victoria, 1993?
2. The popularity of the exorcist in films since the 1970s? Catholic variations? Protestant and Evangelical variations?
3. The title, the implication about the evangelical believers, faith, self-appointed exorcist’s?
4. The setting, the town, the farm, the citizens, the police, the small church, the congregation? The musical score?
5. Lara and Ron, their marriage, the visit to Dr Walsh, the therapy, the discussions, Lara and her response, her imagination? Ron, wary, sceptical of medicine? The return visit, Dr Walsh’s diagnosis of schizophrenia?
6. The religious community, Evangelical, Barbara as leader, prayer and enthusiasm, singing, copies of the Bible? Ron and his place? His concern about Lara, the discussions with Barbara, her wanting to help, her faith? Her belief in Dan, his reputation?
7. The community and their wariness of science, injections, drugs, fluorides poisoning?
8. Lara, the implications of mental illness, schizophrenia? But the film showing her having images, satanic creatures? Going to Dr Walsh, her belief in her? Not wanting the exorcism, her being confined, Ron and his attitude, her being bound, trying to escape, in the barn, Dan’s arrival, taking over?
9. The dramatising of the exorcism? Dan, seeing himself as God’s instrument, seeing himself almost as God? His behaviour, the religious language, echoes of exorcisms, compelling the Demons to? His brutality, violence towards Lara? Verbal abuse? His diagnosis, demands of the Demons to leave? Extending the ceremonies, inviting the group in, their Bibles, their prayer, the range of characters and their beliefs? The impact on Lara? Ron, his beliefs, his doubts, concern for Lara?
10. The sympathetic member of the community, being told off by Dan, her going to see Lara, getting Dr Walsh’s card, phoning her? Lara, the broken Charlotte, getting loose, in the woods, the pursuit, her demonic experiences?
11. The buildup to the end, the flashbacks, her marriage, devoted husband, the baby, the joy, driving, the destruction, the crash, her being rescued, helpless, the baby dying, her husband burnt? The mould of the footprint, then smashing it? Her able to use it to break free?
12. The buildup to the final violence, Dan in his intensity, the aftermath, the blood, Lara dead? The reaction of the group? Ron and his grief? Dan and his reaction, twisting the situation, predicting that Lara would rise from the dead in three days?
13. The day of the resurrection, the police chief, pass relationship with the group, driving Dr Walsh, Dr Walsh’s reaction to Lara’s death, trying to talk with Ron, with Dan?
14. The failure of the resurrection, Dan and his twist that Lara in heaven was better than Lara suffering on Earth?
15. The after information, the arrests, the trials, the suspended sentences? (Which happened actually in 1993.)
16. Audiences, belief in devil possession, exorcisms, or not? Issues of faith, rituals, interpretation of the Scriptures? Exorcist, officially appointed, self-proclaimed?