Repossessed
What happens when you can't pay your exorcist? You get repossessed.

In 1973, Director Thomas Friedkin unleashed upon the movie-going world, ‘The Exorcist’. A nightmarish film that turned the Biblical invocation: ‘The power of Christ compels you’, into a frightening harbinger of horror beyond our wildest imagination. For this was a wicked story that twisted our common understanding of Catholic exorcisms into something dreadful. Much like the impact ‘Jaws’ had upon swimming in the Ocean… The Confessional started to look like a gateway to hell.

However, since then, like many a successful scary film, there’s been dozens-upon-dozens of knock-offs that vary in terms of quality and originality. It’s hard to stake out an atypical tale in this crowded space.

Yet… ‘Repossessed’ by Meg Turner has managed to pull off a quite remarkable, innovative, and compelling take on a familiar narrative.

The story quickly introduces us to PIPER. A cynical 30-year-old woman, who initially comes across as frayed around the edges, and barely holding it together with duct tape and booze. Yet, on the inside, it’s clear she has a keen grasp of who she is and the heavy burden she bares.

After being roughly woken by Father Thomasin -- who treats her like a spiritually indentured lackey – Piper is unceremoniously rolled out of a car choc-full of fast food wrappers and empty bottles of alcohol. For she has work to do.

FATHER THOMASIN
I don't care how you do it, but scour
your soul for what little self-respect
you’ve got left and put it to work.
The Lord is watching.

As Piper gathers herself together on the sidewalk, the audience is introduced to her perspective of the world with the clever and sagacious use of voice-over.

PIPER (V.O.)
This is usually the part where an enlightened,
disembodied narrator would record-scratch
this shit and educate everyone with a witty,
tongue-in-cheek anecdote called
"How to Fuck Up Your Life 101."

It turns out, Piper is acutely aware of the unusual situation in which she finds herself. Though initially, the extent of what makes her so special isn’t completely clear. On the surface, it seems that she assists the aforementioned Father Thomasin in the ‘routine’ procedure of conducting exorcisms.

The first such case involves a ‘demonically possessed’ housewife and her frightened husband, Graham. The Father goes through a highly choreographed routine that is sardonically mocked by Piper, claiming that an Exorcism comes down to three things: Faith, Willpower… and most importantly Money.

Here’s where the script takes a hard left turn into the subversion of tropes associated with this genre of film. Whilst our imagination has been trained over the years to see the Priest or Holy personage as a glorified weary warrior of God, this story offers a new take, that incorporates thematic pessimism of the Church. In short: They’re only in it for the money.

FATHER THOMASIN
There’s the small matter of payment.

GRAHAM
(confused)
Payment?

He looks to Emily, who sits slumped in the chair, barely conscious. Piper looks haggard. She’s sweaty, disheveled, and exhausted. Nonetheless, she gets to her feet and approaches Emily. She takes the silver flask out of her breast pocket, but waits for Father Thomasin to give the word.

GRAHAM
I don’t have any money.

FATHER THOMASIN
That’s a shame, young man. I had hoped
you’d be more eager to have your wife back.

GRAHAM
Are you threatening me?

FATHER THOMASIN
You’re not in a position to negotiate.
I took the evil out of her, and I can just
as easily put it back in.

It’s at this point of the tale we realize there is more to Piper than meets the eye. She carries a heavy burden due to a preternatural ability to relieve the possessed of the demonic entity that enthralls them. Something that the unscrupulous Father Thomasin lords over her as recompense for an ambiguous unpaid debt to the Priest. A dogged debt that has left Piper feeling increasing jaded and frustrated.

So, when they encounter a possessed young lady without the means to pay the rapacious pontiff for relieving her of a malignant infliction, Piper's 'better angels' take over. She observes Father Thomasin tempting the unsuspecting young lady into making a deal with a devil clad in a clerical collar. A deal similar to the one Piper made with the Father many years ago. She can't allow this innocent girl to be tricked into an abhorrent bondage.

Something about this exchange breaks the chains that had kept her subservient to a spiritually corrupt so-called servant of God. She’s had enough, and  decides to confront the perfidious priest who possesses her freedom.

All-in-all, Meg Turner’s extremely well written short-screenplay is a rare gem. A bewitching, quick-witted story that is completely self-contained, yet offers glimpses into a much bigger, fascinating universe beyond. Consequently, this script is tailor-made for a filmmaker that already has a few shorts under their belt, and wants to make something that could be proof of concept for a captivating feature. This short is immediately ready for production. So, don’t wait around. Take possession of this cleverly creepy chronicle before someone else is beguiled by its devilish charms.