Co-directors Don Close and Fiore DeRosa team up for the supernatural police thriller Evil inSight. Written by DeRosa, the filmmakers’ sophomore feature-length film begins with Detective Zeilinski (James Boberi) receiving a letter regarding a case from 10 years ago. That was a missing-persons investigation into a young lady named Megan. The detective messed up by not calling in for backup when he had the chance, and the suspect got away. The case haunts Zeilinski, so a chance for him and his partner, Detective Banks (Valence Thomas), to get to the bottom of things is welcomed.
The first piece of evidence leads the police to Simeon Cain (Richard O’Brien). During Banks and Zeilinski’s interrogation, Simeon claims to be innocent and that he knows where various bodies are because he has powers that let him communicate with the deceased. Of course, the cops don’t believe him, but the only suspect in the murder proves himself to Zellinski. Unfortunately for the senior detective, he’s now experiencing visions of places he’s never been and seeing spirits all around. So if Simeon was telling the truth and used his powers to know everything he knows about the case, who was responsible for the abduction and murder of Megan a decade ago?
Evil inSight is the type of police procedural thriller that was all the rage some 30 or so years ago. The big twist this time isn’t the supernatural element; plenty of films in this niche subgenre have had something similar. But rather, it is how realistic everything feels. The dialogue, for the most part, sounds natural. The story never stretches its premise, allowing viewers to buy into the supernatural elements easily.
“…Simeon claims to be innocent and that he knows where various bodies are because he has powers that let him communicate with the deceased.”
Boberi is hard-nosed and makes for a solid world-wary detective. Thomas brings a humorous edge to his role, which balances well with his more stern partner. O’Brien is believably desperate for someone to believe in his character’s powers. Special shout-out to Gayle Scott’s portrayal of Captain Bravo, who nails the admittedly stereotypical part.
The editing is also quite good throughout the 98-minute runtime. The way the ghosts appear and dissipate is impressive. While there are a few cliches, such as one of the detectives turning in their badge, the final twist is very good and expertly handled.
Evil inSight is a fun throwback to a once-popular subgenre. The acting is good, and the filmmakers have created a believable world. For an indie flick, the effects are great, and the editing is a real highlight. All in all, if one is looking for a solid, slightly creepy mystery, then Close and DeRosa’s film is worth checking out.
For more information, visit the official Evil inSight site.
