If you’re into shapeshifters and dark magic, The Devil’s Left Hand, from master horror filmmaker Harley Wallen, is calling your name. This 2023 supernatural thriller conjures up the best of the genre’s tropes, leaving viewers with a delightfully twisted sense of uneasiness up to the very last frame. Demonic forces should propel this indie feature to cult status, where the more scared you are of the evil spirit, the stronger it gets.

The Devil at Your Door

Cassidy (Kaiti Wallen) and Richie (Kris Reilly) are hosting a housewarming party, with an unusual addition to the night’s festivities. The young couple and their close friends enlist a Medium, Miss Vesna (Aphrodite Nikolovski), to connect with past loved ones before they embark on their new beginning in this sacred space. Despite innocent intentions, things go horribly wrong. A demonic entity breaks through the spiritual portal and breaches Miss Vesna. She quickly loses control of the spirit, causing a devastating chain reaction of terror and havoc. After the party, Cassidy, Richie, and their friends remain on high alert, sensing this demon is not only stalking them but also shapeshifting to cause further confusion.

This incident leads Richie to confront his childhood trauma surrounding his father. When he was 12, Richie’s dad attempted to strangle him and his mother to death. To save her and protect himself, he shot and killed his father. Despite surviving the incident, Richie’s mother was admitted to a mental institution and has been there ever since. This haunting memory consumes Richie because the demonic force has taken the shape of his deceased father, which sends him into a spiral both mentally and physically. To save himself and his friends, Richie must confront his father one last time.

A “Choose Your Own Adventure” Ending

The craft behind The Devil’s Left Hand is impressive, driven by high-quality special effects and smart pacing. Editorially, the film doesn’t rely on jump scares to force audience reactions. Rather, it lets the script and performances speak for themselves. The sound design is another key element that adds a necessary sense of heightened emotion. The film ends on a somewhat open-ended note, which could frustrate some viewers. However, it seems like writer/director Harley Wallen wanted to give the audience a “choose your own adventure” ending that only adds to the film’s DIY nature.

Takeaway

Winner of six awards, including Best Feature at the Mindfield Film Festival, The Devil’s Left Hand captures the spirit of a true independent horror film. Fun fact: If you’ve seen Harley Wallen’s previous films, you may recognize some familiar faces in the cast, including Wallen himself.