Diabolic – Movie Review (4/5)

DIABOLIC is a new horror movie that you do not want to miss out on. It offers a terrifying look at the horrors of fundamentalism. Ultimately, it’s both heartbreaking and scary as hell. With a runtime of 95 minutes, it hits that perfect sweet spot of satisfaction, yet leaves you wanting more. Read our full Diabolic (2025) horror movie review here!

DIABOLIC is a horror movie that packs a punch. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it managed to surpass whatever I thought it would bring to the table. I found it surprising in both its horror and heart, which is always a good thing. Mostly because that particular combination tends to result in a movie that stays with you. Yes, even after the end credits are long over.

It has a runtime of just 95 minutes and is the kind of horror movie where you’re glad it’s over because the story fits the runtime. And yet, you want more from this dark universe of religion and torment because it’s so damn efficient. Elizabeth Cullen is a powerful lead in Diabolic, which certainly lives up to its title.

Continue reading our Diabolic movie review below.

God Forgives… Evil Doesn’t

We were fortunate enough to receive a screener at a time when the wider release date was still unknown. When we got the press material, as it was playing at film festivals, the tagline was “God Forgives… Evil Doesn’t”. I don’t know whether this will be the tagline when Diabolic premieres wider, but I certainly found it very compelling.

And also very accurate and telling of the story in Diabolic.

That’s part of why this movie has so much heart and horror. The idea that there is good in this world, which can forgive, but also acknowledging that there is evil and darkness, which does not. A sinister force that will always seek to harm and terrorize.

The core plot in Diabolic revolves around a young woman, Elise (Elizabeth Cullen), who is looking for a miracle cure. For what and why is for you to find out when you watch the movie. However, what I can tell you is that the supposed cure will soon turn into a nightmare. One that has Elise confronting a vengeful spirit of a cursed witch who wants to use Elise as a vessel.

A nightmarish story of love and religion

This might sound a little too crazy or far-fetched for your horror tastes, but Diabolic is more The VVItch and The Last Thing Mary Saw than Hocus Pocus or some cheap B-movie witch story. And as with any, or certainly most, movies about a witch, religion also plays a part.

It’s the old story of manmade religion versus nature-focused paganism. Even the witches who mean no evil to begin with can easily be pushed far enough that they ultimately become the devilish character they’ve always been compared to. And yes, I recognize that I’m talking in circles, but I really don’t want to do spoilers for Diabolic.

Along with Elizabeth Cullen (The Last Anniversary) in the lead as Elise, we also have John Kim (The Last Thing He Told Me) as her boyfriend Adam, and Mia Challis (Killer Nurses) as her best friend Gwen. Also crucially important is Luca Asta Sardelis (The Devil’s Work) as Clara. That last character is someone who knows more about Elise’s past and why she needs to be cured.

Diabolic has quite a few more characters and cast members, but to avoid spoilers, I won’t get into them here.

Watch Diabolic in theaters on Friday the 13th!

Daniel J. Phillips is the director of Diabolic, and he also co-wrote the screenplay along with Mike Harding and Ticia Madsen. This movie is an Australian production, and the core cast is from Australia as well. I admit that I always expect something good from Australian productions, as we’ve grown accustomed to some amazing genre films from Down Under.

Still, Diabolic was a very pleasant (and terrifying) surprise. Well, “pleasant” in the sense that it was a positive surprise, because it is much more diabolical than godlike in its execution. And it works perfectly for this story about the horrors of religious fundamentalism. Ultimately, it was the heart in this horror movie that won me over… completely.

If we gave half ratings, we would land on 3½ out of 5, but in this case, I am more than happy to pull the rating up to a 4. Not only did the plot surprise in several ways, but it also has a solid horror vibe and characters that are well-developed. I always want to reward that. It’s both heartbreaking and scary as hell, so I highly recommend checking it out whenever you get the chance!

Diabolic will be out in theaters on Friday, the 13th of February, and then it’s released on digital on February 20. 

Details

Director: Daniel J. Phillips
Writers: Mike Harding, Daniel J. Phillips, Ticia Madsen
Cast: Elizabeth Cullen, John Kim, Mia Challis, Luca Asta Sardelis, Robin Goldsworthy, Genevieve Mooy