Director: Chris Sparling
Writer: Chris Sparling (Screenplay)
Starring: Rya Kihlstedt, William Mapother, Sharon Maughan, Harry Groener, John Rubinstein, Julian Acosta
Plot: In the fall of 1976, a small psychology lab in Pennsylvania became the unwitting home to the only government-confirmed case of possession. The U.S. military assumed control of the lab under orders of national security and, soon after, implemented measures aimed at weaponizing the entity. The details of the inexplicable events that occurred are being made public after remaining classified for nearly forty years.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Good Possession Based Film
Story: The Atticus Institute starts by giving us the details of Dr Henry West’s experiments searching for abilities people have claimed to be holding back in the 1970s. We get surprised by making this an interview looks back at what they did with glimpse of what West (Mapother) work with the fellow scientists with video proof of the work.
After being hit with the blow that most of the results were fixed by a member of the team they were about to give up until they meet Judith Winstead (Kihlstedt) an average middle aged woman that has abilities unlike anything they have seen. With the tests becoming more intense the scientists look back at just how much damage they caused.
The Atticus Institute plays out like a documentary looking back at the incident of the only cast of possession the US has admitted. We look back like a television show of the Discovery Channel with slightly higher production value. Taking away from this we do get left wondering what is real behind the case because everything coming off like a cover up. I will say this does come off slightly misleading because I was expecting a pure horror but looking back on the story does work for this style of film.
Actor Review
Rya Kihlstedt: Judith Winstead is the test subject that gets sent there because of her strange actions, it soon turns out that she is more powerful than anybody they have seen before. Her action do lean towards evil but is it her or something controlling her. Rya is great in this role where we see everything her character has to go through.
William Mapother: Dr Henry West is the scientist leading the look into telepathic abilities but with his latest case he finds himself dealing with something they never imagined. This drives him to make tough decisions which put his work to an end. William is good in this role fitting the style of the doctor we are seeing.
Sharon Maughan: Susan Gorman is one of the team looking back on what they did, she shows her regret an awareness of what happened during those years. Sharon is solid in this as one of the characters looking back on the events.
Support Cast: The Atticus Institute has a mix of people looking back on what happened mixed with the people involved as we are left to see how both acting during and after the events.
Director Review: Chris Sparling – Chris gives us a film where we are left to wonder what we want to on whether this is real or not which is always a good aspect from a film.
Horror: The Atticus Institute has good moments of horror which are built up nicely because they happen when we wait for event to happen during each scene.
Settings: The Atticus Institute keeps most of the settings inside the institute which shows how the experiment would have been handled.
Special Effects: The Atticus Institute has good effects to make all the supernatural side of the story look real throughout.
Suggestion: The Atticus Institute is one I think all the horror fans out there should really watch. (Horror Fans Watch)
Best Part: First look at the photos.
Worst Part: Documentary style is slightly misleading.
Believability: It is up to you what you want to believe.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 23 Minutes
Tagline: The only case of possession confirmed by the U.S. Government
Overall: Horror documentary style which works for the cover up idea.
Rating
