Fallen (1998)
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A Philadelphia detective must confront a demonic entity that is moving from host to host after a serial killer's execution.
The story
Philadelphia Police Department detective John Hobbes visits convicted serial killer Edgar Reese on death row shortly before his execution. Reese appears strangely cheerful and delivers what seems to be gibberish in an unknown language. Soon after, a series of murders occurs resembling Reese's crimes. Hobbes and his partner Jonesy initially assume a copycat killer is responsible. Following clues, Hobbes seeks out Gretta Milano, whose late father, a detective, committed suicide after being accused of similar occult-related killings. At the abandoned Milano family cabin, Hobbes discovers books on demonic possession and the name 'Azazel' hidden beneath layers of paint in the basement.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a serial killer's execution, a string of murders occurs that mirrors the killer's previous crimes. Detective John Hobbes and his partner Jonesy investigate, eventually discovering that the killer was a vessel for a demon named Azazel. Gretta Milano reveals that Azazel is a fallen angel that can possess humans through touch. As the demon moves through various hosts, it targets Hobbes' personal life, eventually possessing his nephew. To stop the entity, Hobbes lures it to the Milano cabin. During a final confrontation, Jonesy is possessed and kills Lieutenant Stanton. Hobbes poisons himself with a toxin used by the demon; when Azazel enters his body, it is trapped in a dying host. However, the film ends with a revelation that the demon survived by jumping into a nearby cat.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gregory Hoblit
- Writers
- Nicholas Kazan · writer
- Cast and characters
- Denzel Washington · John Hobbes; John Goodman · Jonesy; Donald Sutherland · Lieutenant Stanton; Embeth Davidtz · Gretta Milano; Elias Koteas · Edgar Reese
- Genres
- supernatural horror; crime thriller; neo-noir
- Themes
- demonic possession; religious horror
- Tone and mood
- suspenseful; noir
- Premise and plot tags
- serial killer; supernatural; police procedural
- Reception
- The film received mixed critical reviews and a poor box office performance, but it has since gained a cult following and is considered one of Denzel Washington's more underrated performances.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 41% · review count: 58; Metacritic · score: 52 · scale: 100 · review count: 28
- Production trivia
- The script was originally written by Nicholas Kazan and Alan Dershowitz.; The film ends with the song 'Sympathy for the Devil'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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