In the world of horror cinema, we are often presented with stories of exorcisms, haunted houses, or dark forces lurking in the most unexpected corners. However, it is rare to find a film that dares to combine such themes with an ambitious filming style — one that makes the entire story appear to unfold in a single, uninterrupted shot, in real time. This is exactly what Bury the Devil offers, a work directed by Adam O’Brien and released in 2026 as a co-production between Canada and the United States. Running approximately 86 minutes, this supernatural horror and thriller film has drawn wide attention since its premiere, thanks to its unique cinematographic approach and a narrative premise that skillfully blends medical uncertainty with otherworldly terror.
Bury the Devil is far more than a typical ghost story. Beneath its straightforward title lies a narrative built on layers of uncertainty: at what point does a person’s behavior reflect the natural effects of aging and illness, and at what point are they being controlled by something far older, far darker, and far more power-hungry? The film draws us into what begins as an apparently ordinary night, only to have it slowly unravel into an endless nightmare — and what makes it all the more terrifying is the sense that we are trapped right there alongside the characters, with no pause, no escape, and no time to catch our breath.
Complete Information About Bury the Devil
Film Basics
Bury the Devil was directed by Adam O’Brien, who also contributed to the story development. The screenplay was written by Brad Hodson, John Petrizzi, Philip Kalin-Hajdu, and Adam O’Brien. Cinematography was handled by Benoît Beaulieu, whose work plays a central role in shaping the film’s atmosphere. The score was composed by Mario Sévigny, whose music amplifies the rising tension in every scene. The film was produced by production companies from the United States and Canada, and is distributed by Brainstorm Media. It began its release in select theaters and on video-on-demand (VOD) platforms in August 2026.
Main Cast
The film stars Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez as Julia, a hospice nurse arriving for her first shift caring for a new patient. Opposite her, Dawn Ford plays Evelyn, an elderly woman suffering from severe memory loss and dementia. Also in a key role, Bill Rowat portrays Randall, Evelyn’s estranged husband who arrives carrying long-buried family secrets. The cast also includes Mark Antony Krupa as Father Thierry, along with supporting performances by Skyler Clark, Jason Cavalier, Natasha Moll, Isabella Gonzalez, and Steve "Liquid" Hawley.
Premise and Plot
The film opens with an adrenaline-charged scene: a large lakeside home is engulfed in flames, and a woman’s screams echo in the distance. Moments later, the narrative rewinds — precisely 75 minutes before that fire begins. From that point onward, almost the entire film unfolds in real time, giving the impression that the clock is running continuously without a single second cut away.
Julia, a nurse carrying what appears to be a heavy personal burden, arrives at Evelyn’s remote residence to begin her first shift caring for the elderly woman. At first, everything seems routine. She helps Evelyn prepare for bed, listens to her patient’s meandering, repetitive stories, and speaks over the phone with her own father, who voices clear concern for her safety. Evelyn frequently addresses Julia as Sarah — the name of her deceased daughter. Julia initially assumes this is merely a symptom of her patient’s dementia, a common memory lapse among the elderly.
As time passes, however, these lapses begin to defy medical explanation. Julia discovers disturbing paintings, books filled with strange symbols, unnatural scratch marks etched into walls and floors, and old audio recordings capturing conversations between Evelyn and her late daughter Sarah. When Evelyn begins wandering the darkened house, appearing in hallways Julia has just checked and cleared, a deep dread takes hold — the elderly woman seems to move in ways that no human being possibly could.
When Randall, Evelyn’s estranged husband, arrives unexpectedly in response to a letter she sent, the scattered pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. It is revealed that Evelyn and Sarah once practiced rituals involving occult forces, and that an entity known as Elim — a demonic being described in an ancient text created specifically for this story — is said to consume the life and strength of those it inhabits until it absorbs them completely. This malevolent power has now taken hold of Evelyn, and the sprawling old house slowly transforms into a battleground. Julia must fight to survive, uncover the truth behind Sarah’s death, and find a way to stop this demonic force before morning comes — or before she becomes its next victim.
Themes and Atmosphere
Bury the Devil uses dementia as a remarkably effective narrative device built on ambiguity. In the early acts, the audience shares the same uncertainty: are we witnessing the ravings of a mind broken by age, or is something else hiding behind that confusion? This tension creates a unique atmosphere in which fear arises not only from terrifying sights, but from uncertainty itself. The film also explores profound themes of grief, guilt, and how unresolved sorrow can open the door for darkness to enter a person’s life. The great, aged house with its endless shadowed hallways becomes an extension of Evelyn’s own fractured, haunted mind.
Strengths of Bury the Devil
Impressive One-Shot Visual Concept
Bury the Devil’s greatest achievement lies in its masterful construction, designed to appear as though it unfolds entirely in one continuous take with no visible cuts. While invisible transitions are subtly hidden as the camera passes windows, doors, or curtains, the seamlessness of the editing is truly remarkable. The effect is immersive: the audience feels as though they are physically present, walking alongside Julia from room to room, feeling the passage of time ticking relentlessly onward with no pause for breath. This stylistic choice eliminates the distance between viewer and protagonist — we cannot look away, just as Julia cannot escape her reality. This is what makes the tension feel so visceral and undeniably real.
Outstanding Performances
Dawn Ford delivers a powerful and utterly convincing performance as Evelyn. She portrays a character shifting between many states: a frail, confused elderly woman in one moment, and a seething, demonically possessed force of nature in the next — often with no clear boundary between the two. It is these subtle, unsettling transitions that evoke the deepest unease and fear. Opposite her, Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez builds a compelling portrait of Julia: a strong, capable woman whose courage slowly crumbles, allowing the audience to feel her rising panic. Together, they form a mesmerizing on-screen pairing, particularly during scenes where their conversations evolve into clashes of will and sanity.
Atmosphere and Cinematography Brimming with Tension
The filmmakers make exceptional use of the large, dimly lit house with its endless hallways and shadows. The camera moves slowly and deliberately, often leaving empty space at the edges of the frame that forces the eye to search for hidden threats. Lighting is kept deliberately low, relying mostly on candlelight and dim bedside lamps that cast shifting, living shadows across every surface. The sound design is equally praiseworthy — every creaking floorboard, every door that closes on its own, and every whisper drifting from the end of a corridor is layered to create a sustained, suffocating sense of dread, without relying on cheap jump scares. Tension builds slowly, layer upon layer, until the very atmosphere feels heavy and breathless.
An Unconventional Narrative Framework
Unlike most exorcism films, which are typically set in ordinary homes or hospitals, Bury the Devil places its terror within the context of elderly care and memory loss. This offers a distinct advantage: in the early scenes, every strange occurrence can plausibly be blamed on Evelyn’s illness. This narrative ambiguity enriches the story, keeping the audience guessing long before supernatural forces are revealed. This approach also makes the horror feel grounded and believable — we all understand how disorienting it can be to care for someone whose mind is changing — and the film brilliantly exploits that real-world unease as the gateway to deeper terror.
Weaknesses of Bury the Devil
A Plot That Sometimes Follows Familiar Patterns
For all its technical brilliance, the core story still follows narrative paths that will feel familiar to anyone acquainted with the exorcism subgenre. Many revelations arrive predictably, and certain plot beats lack originality. Once the existence of the demonic entity and its connection to the family’s past are revealed, the direction of the story becomes relatively easy to anticipate. Several decisions made by the protagonist also seem questionable or illogical, appearing to serve plot progression rather than realistic human behavior. As a result, seasoned horror viewers may find themselves predicting key developments minutes before they occur.
A Pace That Occasionally Drags
Because the film adheres strictly to its real-time, continuous-shot concept, certain sequences move slowly — particularly in the first half. There are moments where the camera simply follows characters moving between rooms with little occurring in the interim, which risks feeling tedious or unnecessarily prolonged. While this slowness is clearly intentional and designed to build atmosphere, in several instances the silence and stillness reduce tension rather than amplifying it. Explanatory dialogue also occasionally slows momentum, delaying the narrative’s return to rising action.
Underdeveloped Supporting Characters
Aside from Julia and Evelyn, supporting figures — including Randall and Father Thierry — lack meaningful depth. Their motivations and roles in the night’s events are explained hurriedly through dialogue that feels expository, serving the purpose of conveying information to the audience rather than resembling natural conversation between people in crisis. Consequently, when their fates hang in the balance, it is difficult to feel genuine concern or emotional investment. The backstory of the entity itself is also sometimes delivered through direct monologue, rather than woven naturally into the storytelling.
Uneven Visual Effects Work
During several pivotal scenes, practical and visual effects appear less than convincing and occasionally look artificial, which slightly undermines the emotional impact of those moments. Given the care and precision with which the film builds its atmosphere, a noticeable lapse in visual credibility can momentarily break immersion. That said, these moments are relatively few and do not fundamentally detract from the overall viewing experience.
Conclusion and Final Verdict
Bury the Devil stands as proof that with clear artistic vision and creative courage, horror cinema can feel fresh and vivid even when exploring well-trodden themes. Its true strength lies not in narrative innovation, but in how that story is told. Through intelligent cinematography, performances that are both moving and terrifying, and an atmosphere crafted with meticulous care, the film succeeds in making us feel the sheer horror of being trapped in a dark house alongside something we cannot fully see — yet know is watching from every shadow.
Its flaws — a predictable story arc, uneven pacing, and underdeveloped supporting characters — are worth noting. Yet none of them overshadows the film’s greatest accomplishment: creating an immersive, intimate, and relentlessly tense experience. Viewers will feel as though they are running down those darkened hallways alongside Julia, hearts racing, waiting for what awaits around the next corner.
If you appreciate horror that prioritizes atmosphere, slowly building dread, and powerful acting performances, Bury the Devil is well worth watching. If, however, you prefer fast-paced shocks and constant narrative surprises, you may find this film slower and more predictable than you would like. Overall, Bury the Devil is an ambitious production, one that largely succeeds in achieving its artistic goals, and leaves an impression that lingers long after the lights have come back on.
Author’s Note: This review is based on information available as of August 2026. The film was released in select theaters and through video-on-demand services. This analysis reflects an assessment of the film’s performances, cinematography, and direction, and is not intended as a definitive judgment of personal taste. Every viewer brings their own perspective, and it is precisely those differing viewpoints that make film discussion meaningful and rewarding.