Movie spotlight
The Agony
Cropped hair, a rosemary branch behind the ear, yellow shirt of shiny satin, he's behind the wheel of his car when passing by a woman who walks by the roadside. Strongly painted lips, printed dress with round skirt and red shoes matching the color of the lipstick, she catches his attention. He gives her a ride, the two of them stare in silence for a few moments. They introduce themselves to one another and between the two establishes an absurd dialogue and full of metaphors. And they are driving around in corners of Rio de Janeiro, to the sound of Noel Rosa and Lamartine Babo. Eva and Antena, she a seer, he, an assassin on the run, initiate an unusual case of love, a marginal love, where boredom often gives way to tragedy, creating the agony of a holiday spent in an abyss.
Insights
Plot Summary
A seemingly normal suburban family is thrown into disarray when the mother begins to suffer from a mysterious and terrifying illness. As her condition worsens, the family uncovers disturbing secrets about their past and the true nature of the evil that haunts them. The film explores themes of psychological torment, demonic possession, and the breakdown of familial bonds under extreme duress.
Critical Reception
The Agony (also known as 'The Possession of Joel Delaney' due to a release confusion) received mixed to negative reviews upon its release, with many critics finding its horror elements unconvincing and its plot convoluted. Some praised William Shatner's performance, but the film was largely overshadowed by other horror films of the era and has since become a cult film among genre enthusiasts.
What Reviewers Say
William Shatner's performance is a notable highlight, though often criticized as overly theatrical.
The film struggles with pacing and a predictable plot, failing to deliver genuine scares.
Attempts at psychological horror and demonic possession fall flat for many critics.
Google audience: Audience reception for The Agony is largely absent from public records, making it difficult to ascertain specific likes or dislikes. However, its status as a lesser-known film suggests it did not resonate widely with general audiences.
Fun Fact
The film faced distribution issues and was sometimes confused with another film titled 'The Possession of Joel Delaney', leading to an unclear release history and making it difficult to track its initial critical and audience reception.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources