Verdict
Summary
Astonishing in its unexpected convictions and sinister, but very playful agenda, Nefarious is one of the most surprising and entertaining movies of the year. Truly a modern day masterpiece, Nefarious is a real doozy of a viewing experience, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Plot:
A condemned prisoner will be put to death, but first a doctor has to clear him as sane, leading to complications.
Review:
A psychologist named James Martin (Jordan Belfi) is called in to a maximum-security prison to perform a psychological evaluation on a prisoner who is scheduled to be executed later that evening. The prisoner is Wayne Brady (Sean Patrick Flannery in a standout performance), and Martin has been warned that Brady is a master manipulator and to be on his guard. During the exam, Brady assures with complete confidence that Martin will commit three murders before he leaves the prison grounds, which seems impossible. Brady also makes it very clear that he isn’t Wayne Brady at all, but a demon named Nefarious, which seems unlikely as well, but as the examination progresses over the course of several hours, Brady’s tics and mannerisms – and his incredible foreknowledge of Martin’s personal life and hidden sins – might suggest that there’s a demon at work after all. As the minutes clock away and the warden’s demand that Martin simply declare Brady sane intensifies, Martin’s entire worldview changes as a result of Brady’s warped game where Martin might actually begin to believe that Brady is insane, but still willing to put him to death despite the fact, which ties into Brady’s original prediction that the good doctor will commit murder three times over before the night is done.
Astonishing in its unexpected convictions and sinister, but very playful agenda, Nefarious is one of the most surprising and entertaining movies of the year. Thanks to a whip smart script and spry direction by writing / directing team Chuck Konselman and Cary Solomon, the film kept me on my toes and sometimes even on the edge of my seat in shock and anticipation for what would come next, which is extremely rare these days for this seasoned and hardened film reviewer. It’s a horror movie, yes, but it’s also a fantastic psychological thriller with a crackerjack sense of conservative subterfuge, which I absolutely loved. Flannery provides perhaps the very best performance of his career as the twitchy, maniacal villain, but there’s an incredible amount of dimension to his dual character, and he plays them both to the hilt. Truly a modern day masterpiece, Nefarious is a real doozy of a viewing experience, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Out on DVD and Blu-ray on August 15th, Nefarious will be available to own at an affordable price. The Blu-ray contains a number of choice special features including a making-of feature, a commentary by the filmmakers, a commentary by the cast, interviews, and more.
