Movie Review: ‘Courtney Gets Possessed’

Review by Hunter Miele

“Courtney Gets Possessed”, written and directed by Madison Hatfield and Jono Mitchell, is a quirky, supernatural horror-comedy that gives a goofy spin to a familiar trope. What can most accurately be described as a silly version of “The Exorcist” (if you can imagine that), this film will leave viewers feeling warm and fuzzy (quite unlike The Exorcist) as the film explores themes relating to awkward familial relationships and mending the hurt between those we love.

The film opens with a wedding, where Courtney (Lauren Buglioli) and her sister Caitlyn (Madison Hatfield) are begrudgingly bridesmaids. Courtney accuses Caitlyn of always stealing her boyfriends in the past, and we feel the love between the sisters shrouded in pain and jealousy. While Courtney sulks at the reception, she’s approached by a handsome stranger who introduces himself as Dave. We later learn that after this encounter, Courtney and Dave spend two years in a casual, romantic relationship. Dave’s a great guy- intelligent, good-looking, wealthy. There’s only one problem: He’s literally the Devil.

Five years later, it’s Courtney’s turn to get married. By this point she’s long forgotten Dave and her betrothed- a handsome priest called Glenn (Zae Jordan)- is essentially the opposite of the Devil. He’s sweet and goofy with absolutely no secrets to keep. At the rehearsal dinner, Caitlyn is introduced to Dave for the first time and is enthralled by his charm and mystique. She invites him to the bachelorette party being held later that night, and when he arrives, chaos ensues.

The film wastes no time diving into the fun, supernatural pandemonium. After Dave reveals his true identity to the wedding party, the possessions commence with perfectly timed hilarity. Thanks to a well-chosen ensemble cast, the film retains a playful and heartfelt tone while still managing to be eerie and suspenseful. Witty one-liners flow with ease and pair perfectly with the situational humor.

What truly shines in “Courtney Gets Possessed” is each character’s individual development, as well as the development of the wedding party ensemble itself. The writers succeeded in giving each character a vivid, unique persona that evolves as the film progresses, which isn’t always the case for a film that relies so much on goofy jokes and slapstick humor. However, despite the talented writing and performances, the film falls short in terms of pacing. Some scenes could have been trimmed or reworked to maintain a consistent level of energy throughout, especially during the first few scenes.

In the end, “Courtney Gets Possessed” is an exciting and laugh-out-loud romp into the supernatural. Its relatable characters and witty humor make it an enjoyable watch, even if it does lag a bit in the beginning. While it might not cater to hardcore horror fans craving gore, it will certainly entertain those on the hunt for a witty comedy with a touching twist.