Films to See: “The Demons (Les Demons)”

Childhood fears, real and imagined, drive this story of a sensitive young boy whose life in 1980’s Montreal suburbia is complicated by family instability and outside threats. The ‘demons’ are initially implied to be the inner demons plaguing imaginative young Felix, whose fears range from parental discord to AIDS and the news of abducted boys. Director Philippe Lesage uses a measured pace, naturalistic performances, and a paradoxically realistic setting to create unease and set us up for the provocative and unsettling later scenes that reveal the real demon in the midst.

Why You Might Like “The Demons”

“The Demons” is stimulating cinema for the perceptive cinephile. The lingering, carefully composed shots reveal more than what is on the surface and the film draws us into the child’s world where we can reconnect with feelings of curiosity, vulnerability, and anxiety. In a daring move, the film turns imaginative fears into a real threat that might be disturbing for some viewers. This dark turn is masterfully handled to bring the story to a meaningful conclusion. If you love an arthouse psychological thriller drama, you should see “The Demons”. You can view the trailer and buy tickets for “The Demons” here.

Written by Cathleen MacDonald
Cathleen MacDonald is a writer and filmmaker.