Whether you’re a fan of movies like The Exorcist and The Conjuring or sceptical about the paranormal world, I invite you to watch Netflix’s documentary ‘The Devil’s on Trial’ written and directed by Chris Holt (2023).
It starts with the story of eleven-year-old David Glatzel, who gets possessed by a demon after moving with his family to a new house bought by his sister Debbie and her boyfriend Arnie Cheyenne Johnson in 1980. The family asks for the local priest’s aid, but he only offers prayers that don’t help David at all. His mother, Judy, decides to contact Ed and Lorraine Warren — the famous couple who investigated paranormal activities in the 70s and the 80s; and were depicted by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in the Conjuring movies — who immediately come to the rescue.
After a few interviews with the family and observation of David, they decide that it’s a possession case that needs the intervention of the Catholic Church for an exorcism. However, exorcism is not something that the church takes lightly or performs immediately.
There must be enough evidence documented and presented before the church decides if it’s a genuine case for exorcism. With the help of the Warrens, the family manages to record David’s voice when being possessed, along with Polaroid pictures of him being held down by different members of his family (and you get to see and hear all of it. Spooky!).
After a few months, exorcism is approved and the whole family, along with the Warrens, head to the church to witness it. But it doesn’t go smoothly and David is almost killed if not for Debbie’s boyfriend, Arnie, crying at the demon to leave the child alone and take him instead. And that’s what happens exactly: the demon leaves David and enters Arnie. Of course, the Warrens weren’t happy with Arnie’s reaction to being the new host, yet Arnie doesn’t show any sign of possession until months later.
In November 1981, Arnie was caught by the police after murdering his landlord, forty-year-old Alan Bono. Arnie, who was nineteen at the time, claimed that the last thing he remembers was leaving Bono’s house along with Debbie and his sisters before blacking out. The case became known as the ‘Demon Murder Trial’ and ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ as these were Arnie’s claims of innocence. It was the first and the only time in American courts where the defence attorney attempted to use demonic possession as the reason for dismissal.
Yet, the judge rejects the claim for lack of evidence and Arnie is charged with murder and is released after five years. Then comes the bombshell: Was David’s possession real or simply a child seeking attention?
Furthermore, was he being persuaded by the adults to do it for fame and fortune that never came? How about the Warrens' involvement in the whole case?
Was it done out of real concern or economic gains? These are the questions that you’re hit with after hearing the testimony of David’s elder brother Carl, who shares other claims, such as accusing his mother of adding sleeping pills to their dinner daily.
The documentary is entertaining with a good narrative. The interviews of the Glatzel’s siblings and Arnie, along with the enactment of the events, was gripping as the actors truly resembled the real characters.
Nevertheless, I found the pictures and the tape recordings a bit disturbing yet essential to comprehend the storyline. The movie is cleverly made in a way that leaves you in doubt, even with all the witnesses’ testimonies and pieces of evidence presented.
Recommended for the lionhearted only!
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