Documentary delves into exorcisms in the real world

The English translation of the Latin title of this Italian documentary is Deliver Us, which sounds like a horror film. And with good reason; the topic of Federica Di Giacomo’s movie is exorcism in the real world — specifically in Palermo, where Father Cataldo is so overwhelmed by requests to drive out demons, he sometimes holds a special exorcism mass to try to get seven or eight at a go.

Cataldo is also seen performing an exorcism over the phone, doubling down on an already dubious practice and causing this skeptic to wonder whether it’s possible to text away Satan, or use even older technologies; deus fax machina?

But the director doesn’t judge; her doc is shot straight on, with as little editorial bias as she can muster. But unless you believe that Satan is hiding under every rock (or in Father Cataldo’s case, beneath dirty laundry, behind religious paintings and in the occasional stuffed animal) you may find yourself moved to derision, even as you strive for sympathy.

Clearly many of the film’s subjects need help, and one priest is shown gently asking whether one supplicant has sought psychiatric aid. But time and again the diagnosis comes down to — you (or your family) should be more devout. And whether due to illness or religious expectation, those in the grip of possession can be counted on to writhe, flail and growl obscenities.

There are no spinning heads or pea-soup vomit, mind you. Despite the Halloween release, this isn’t that kind of movie. ∂∂∂