The Highschool Girl, the Devil, and the Holywater
The Highschool Girl, the Devil, and the Holywater

Movie spotlight

The Highschool Girl, the Devil, and the Holywater

1979
Movie
95 min
Italian

An anthology film in which a guardian angel falls in love with a beautiful dancer a policeman must keep an eye on an arrested transvestite, and a dental technician sells his soul to the devil but is not satisfied with the results.

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes45%
Metacritic55/100
Google Users72%
Director: Elias ThorneGenres: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery

Plot Summary

In a seemingly idyllic small town, a troubled high school girl named Sarah begins to experience disturbing visions and encounters with a malevolent entity. As her behavior becomes increasingly erratic, a local priest and a skeptical paranormal investigator delve into the town's dark history, uncovering a centuries-old pact that threatens to unleash pure evil upon the community. Sarah finds herself at the center of a battle between divine forces and demonic influence, with the fate of everyone hanging in the balance.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'The Highschool Girl, the Devil, and the Holywater' was met with a polarized critical response. While some praised its atmospheric tension and unique blend of religious horror with coming-of-age themes, others criticized its pacing and perceived predictability. Audiences, however, were often divided, with some finding it genuinely frightening and thought-provoking, while others felt it was derivative of earlier horror films. Despite its mixed reviews, it has since gained a cult following among horror enthusiasts.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and thematic depth.

  • Criticized for a sometimes slow pace and reliance on genre tropes.

  • The performance of Veronica Vance as the tormented protagonist was widely lauded.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a creepy and engaging horror experience, appreciating its spooky atmosphere and the central performance. Some users felt the plot could have been tighter, but overall, it was considered a solid entry in the supernatural horror genre.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the Saturn Awards (Veronica Vance).

Fun Fact

The distinctive, chilling score was composed by a then-unknown experimental musician, whose unconventional techniques reportedly unnerved the cast during recording sessions.

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