Film Review: Demon Behind the Glass (2023)

I sat down to watch Demon Behind the Glass, and immediately thought, “Here we go again, another haunted house movie.” But nope – this one tries to break the mold by introducing a demonic house vibe, complete with a creepy mirror, presumed cult activity, and a bit of possession for good measure. Sounds like it could be a fun ride, right? Well, we’ll see.

The Premise

A journalist moves into a house with a checkered history. We’ve all seen this before—the strange object left by previous tenants, persistent strange noises, a nagging sense that something sinister is lurking around just beyond the sight lines. But then, the color comes in: it’s not just any haunted house—this place is tied to some demonic rituals and a cult! Are you shocked by this impressively original twist? I sure was.

You’d think that would make for a solid, spooky story, but the way it plays out leaves a lot to be desired. It feels like the creators took all the classic horror tropes – haunted objects, cults, possession, an unknowing protagonist – and just threw them together without really letting any of them breathe or trying to make them especially memorable. As one might expect, the result is a bit messy.

The Execution

Overall, the performances are adequate. The lead journalist does a decent job in his role, but the chemistry between him and the rest of the cast isn’t there, and you never get a sense that these characters actually care about each other. Naturally, this makes it hard to care about them yourself. The dialogue often feels phoned-in, like the actors are just pushing the story on to the next scene. While they’re making a solid effort, I don’t feel the script is strong enough to do more than the minimum it has to.

As for the horror, well, there’s certainly a lot going on. Lights flicker, weird noises echo, and mirrors do their creepy thing. But we’ve seen it all before, and nothing here feels genuinely scary or impactful. It’s like the filmmakers are trying to keep the tension cranked up to eleven, but instead of building a slow burn, they just pile on the noise and chaos, hoping something will stick and audience will not grow numb. It’s just a continuous barrage of activity that never really gets turns into anything affecting or memorable. Picture being in a crowded pub with the TV blaring, the jukebox playing, and people talking all around you—but none of it actually grabbing your attention. That’s the vibe here. The atmosphere wants to be scary, but it never does the work to earn it.

The Cult Angle

Now, about the cult. At first, this subplot seems like it could add a lot of intrigue, and this element seems like the natural course for the creator to add something to set their film apart from others with a similar premise. Sure, the house is tied to dark rituals, and there’s a secret society angle going on in the wider community, but these elements regrettably feel more like an afterthought. It’s introduced, but never developed enough to be interesting, expecting the viewer to perhaps fill in the blanks without creating enough intrigue to warrant them doing so.

Final Thoughts

Look, Demon Behind the Glass might be fun for a casual viewing, but it’s far from something you’ll remember once the credits roll. There’s definitely strong elements buried under all the chaos, but the execution comes up short. The scares are predictable, the characters forgettable, and the story feels all over the place. Manage your expectations accordingly.

That said, if you’re a die-hard fan of demonic house stories and cults, you might find a few things to latch onto, but don’t expect to be blown away. It’s one of those films where you’re constantly wondering, “Is this it? When is something actually going to happen?” By the time the end rolls around, you’re just kind of relieved it’s over. If you’re really bored and need some background noise, maybe give it a watch—but don’t expect to be scared, shocked, or even particularly intrigued. It’s a lot of missed potential.

Score: 4.5

Strengths

• Creative premise with a demonic twist on the haunted house genre

• Some creepy moments, especially with the mirror and lighting effects

• Enthusiasm for the genre shines through, even if the execution falls short

Weaknesses

• Rushed and underdeveloped story that doesn’t fully explore its potential

• Amateurish acting and forced dialogue, leaving the characters hard to connect with

• Awful CGI that undermines the scares and pulls you out of the experience

You can watch Demon Behind the Glass on Amazon. Other vendors may be available.