Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism (2023) Review – A Chilling True Crime Horror
Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A disturbing and deeply affecting exploration of religious zealotry that functions more as a harrowing crime drama than a traditional supernatural horror. Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism succeeds by grounding its terror in the brutal reality of ritual abuse and the tragic misunderstanding of mental illness. Georgia Eyers delivers a standout performance, capturing the physical and emotional exhaustion of someone suffering through both a psychiatric crisis and the dangerous “cures” of her loved ones. While the film suffers from minor continuity issues and an incredibly jarring sound mix that forces you to juggle your volume remote, it remains a powerful piece of Australian cinema. It is a 3.5 star experience that hits far harder than its generic Tubi title suggests, offering a sobering look at how faith can be corrupted into cruelty. It is not an easy watch, but it is an important one that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Details: Director: Nick Kozakis | Cast: Georgia Eyers, Tim Pocock, Dan Ewing, Rosie Traynor | Runtime: 1h 31m | Release Date: 6 April 2023
Best for: Viewers who prefer grounded, reality-based horror and fans of bleak Australian crime thrillers like Snowtown or The Snowtown Murders.
Worth noting: The film is based on the 1993 Joan Vollmer case in Victoria, Australia, where a four-day “exorcism” ritual resulted in a woman’s death from heart attack and physical trauma.
Where to Watch: Tubi (Free), Amazon Prime Video
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
(A visceral, true-crime-inspired horror that prioritises brutal reality over supernatural thrills.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we will be reviewing a movie that is a religious horror with a bit of a difference – Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism.
Table of Contents
Possession horror with a sickening twist
We’ve explained the ending to this one. If you need answers, as well as insight into the real-life case that inspired the movie, click the link Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism Ending Explained.
Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism follows the story of Lara and her husband Ron. After losing her young child in tragic circumstances, Lara has been dealing with what appears to be schizoaffective disorder. She has been suffering bouts of mania and experiencing paranoid delusions. Wanting to further engage with medical treatment, Lara is discouraged by her husband who believes her symptoms are something altogether more unholy. Something that will require a radical and dangerous solution.
Godless is based on the tragic case of Victoria woman Joan Vollmer. Not to be confused with the American Joan Vollmer, who was, unfortunately, killed by her husband when he drunkenly attempted to shoot an apple off of her head.
Suffice to say, Godless plays out as a depiction of a true story, complete with opening and closing statements regarding the characters. Keep in mind, names, setting, time period, and some of the facts have all been changed. The story however, including the harrowing ending, is grounded in reality.
Less horror, more horrifying
This is ostensibly a crime movie which means that fans of horror may find it a little lacking. There is very little time given to the suggestion that this is anything other than a horrible act committed by corrupted people. Still, it is incredibly affecting and powerful.
“Sometimes, the reality of a situation can be far more impactful than any monster or creature design could hope to be. Godless is far closer to Australian crime horror like Snowtown and Hounds of Love.”
Some times, the reality of a situation can be far more impactful than any monster or creature design could hope to be. Still, if you are expecting an outback version of The Exorcist, you will likely be disappointed. That’s not at all what this movie is going for. Godless is far closer to Australian crime horror like Snowtown and Hounds of Love.
That doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything for fans of horror to grab onto here. The events that play out are truly disturbing. Daniel makes for a maniacal and unsettling antagonist, all the more sinister for his righteous and holier-than-thou attitude. It is difficult to not feel unnerved when the movie reveals its true path. The troubling way the people involved react only adds to the terror. Godless is lacking in horror thrills but it is far from lacking when it comes to the horrifying reality of the situation.
Uncompromising and affecting
Godless really pulls no punches when it comes to its depiction of the events at hand. From the opening scenes of Lara dancing naked in the garden right through to Lara’s memories of the traumatic moments leading up to her baby’s death.
“It is pretty clear that director Nick Kozakis does not intend to sugar coat a single facet of this story. Some of the imagery is shocking and likely to upset certain viewers.”
It is pretty clear that director Nick Kozakis does not intend to sugar coat a single facet of this story. Some of the imagery is shocking and likely to upset certain viewers; it all feels very necessary, though. Almost as if it is crucial to the plot, even if it is not pleasant to see.
Kozakis does an impressive job of taking us into the mind of Lara. Illustrating the turmoil she is going through as well as her frustrations at the reactions of the people around her. I am rather impressed at the writing here, as well. References to psychiatric disorders and medications are accurate, reflecting some genuine knowledge or research into the subject itself. This is a movie that feels very close to the brilliant Saint Maud when it comes to mental illness. Conveying the difficulties and misunderstandings that come along with these disorders well.
A few issues
There are a few minor issues here and there but nothing that detracts too greatly from the movie itself. Continuity can be a bit messy; the timeline jumps around a little with no indication. We could have used a few notes to indicate the time that certain events were taking place. Oddly enough, the final part of the movie does feature a reference note to the day events are taking place. Something that feels a bit odd given the fact that it was omitted previously.
A side story with a psychiatrist and a police officer feels a bit tacked on. Serving as little more than a way to tie things up at the end. There’s a bit of overacting from some of the religious congregation. The sound production is some of the most annoying I have ever heard, as well. Almost whisper-like voices suddenly give way to booming music and sound effects. It makes for a genuinely horrible watch at times.
I wasn’t overly enamoured with the way Godless sometimes leans into elements of possession. It occasionally drifts away from reality and muddies the waters on whether or not Lara’s husband’s motivation were just. There is no real room for ambiguity here. Although schizophrenic episodes have been the cause of many “possession” accusations in the past, I am fairly sure it doesn’t occur in quite the way it is depicted here. Schizophrenic episodes are drawn out, not two-minute outbursts in the back of cars.
Generally great acting and direction
Acting is, generally, great throughout. Special mention has to go to Georgia Eyers as Lara. She does a tremendous job, managing to convey a range of emotion through simple means. All while taking us deep into the world of the character’s struggle in an entirely believable way. It’s also worth me pointing out: Eyers is one of the only actors who actually manages to capture that psychotropic medication look. The very specific heavy eyes you get when you start taking mood stabilisers and anti-psychotics. Nice work!
Tim Pocock stands out for just how well he portrays the sinister Daniel. His character can feel a little bit like a comic book villain at times. Pocock does a great job of seeming utterly sinister and generally unsettling. The rest of the cast is rather unremarkable. Dan Ewing is fine as Lara’s husband, despite how annoying his character is. I would have liked to have seen more of Eliza Matengu as Dr. Walsh. Her role is intriguing but rather small. Everyone else does an okay job in rather limited roles.
“Georgia Eyers is one of the only actors who actually manages to capture that psychotropic medication look; the very specific heavy eyes you get when you start taking mood stabilisers and anti-psychotics.”
Direction is fine. There are some continuity issues and a few scenes thrown in deliberately to shock but this is a well-made movie. Cinematography stands out, as well, for some truly brilliant shots. This is a movie that punches above its weight but we all expect that from Aussie horror, right?
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Georgia Eyers: A phenomenal lead performance that captures the physical nuances of mental health struggle and medication side effects with startling accuracy.
- Grim Realism: The film refuses to sugar-coat the reality of ritual abuse, making it far more impactful than a typical “spinning head” possession movie.
- Australian Aesthetic: Excellent cinematography that makes use of the vast, isolated landscape to build a sense of inescapable dread.
The Bad
- Sound Mix: The audio levels are incredibly uneven, with quiet dialogue followed by deafening music and sound effects that make for a frustrating listening experience.
- Ambiguous Elements: The film occasionally dips its toes into actual possession tropes, which slightly muddies the waters of its “mental health vs zealotry” theme.
- Tacked-on B-Plot: The secondary storyline involving the police and psychiatrist feels underdeveloped compared to the central drama at the house.
The Ugly: The True Story. Realising that this harrowing ordeal is based on the actual 1993 death of Joan Vollmer adds a layer of sickening weight to everything on screen.
Should You Watch Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism?
Yes, but be prepared for a very different kind of exorcism movie. It is a 3.5 star thriller that prioritises social horror and psychological trauma over traditional jump scares. If you appreciated the bleak, grounded nature of Saint Maud or the visceral impact of Australian true crime horror, this is a must-watch. Just don’t expect CG demons or popcorn fun.
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