# Nefarious and the battle for the human mind > The Christian psychological horror film Nefarious surprises viewers by revealing the strategies of evil and exploring the battle for the human mind. URL: https://blog.univervideo.com/filme-nefarious-batalha-mente-humana?lang=en Idioma: en Publicado em: 2023-12-03 Autor: Vanessa Lampert Categoria: News ### A major 2023 release, this Christian psychological horror film surprises by revealing evil's strategies ![image_142_1024x683_287ee8b362.jpg](https://blog.univervideo.com/imagens/strapi-3e433ed644339cf1.jpg) Nefarious has generated great curiosity in Brazil and around the world. Available in Univer's catalog since December 9, many people want to know whether it is worth watching. Written and directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon, the film is based on Steve Deace's novel A Nefarious Plot. A psychiatrist, Dr. James Martin, is called to assess the mental health of Edward Brady, a serial killer on death row whose execution is scheduled for that night. His aim is to determine whether the man has a mental illness that prevents his execution. The previous psychiatrist's proposed diagnosis is dissociative personality disorder (formerly known as multiple personalities). A definitive report would prevent the execution. Edward claims to be a demon named Nefarious. Although an atheist who does not believe he is talking to a spiritual entity, the psychiatrist engages in the conversation and tries to analyze Edward's mental state by speaking with Nefarious. The demon, meanwhile, seems in control, wanting to get rid of Edward quickly and recruit James for a greater plan. The film centers on their dialogue. It somewhat recalls the idea behind C. S. Lewis's book The Screwtape Letters, in revealing evil's strategies from a demon's perspective, which sheds a different light on our daily lives. For example, at one point, Nefarious explains to James that demonic possession is a process, revealing much about evil's work on thoughts as it attempts to manipulate human will, actions, and reactions. He says that to enter someone's life, he needs that person to make small concessions so he gains rights over them. ![nefarious-film-960x540.jpg](https://blog.univervideo.com/imagens/strapi-93af8c3d86e74d6b.jpg) They only need to say "yes" to his suggestions. And this is biblical. When a person obeys the voice of evil, they automatically turn away from God. The size of that obedience does not matter. You cannot serve two masters. If you say yes to one, you necessarily say no to the other. Edward's file describes him as highly manipulative, but when the real Edward talks to the doctor, we see a broken, confused man with a dulled mind, completely oppressed by Nefarious's personality. This is truly what would happen to someone who allowed evil—the real manipulator—total access to their mind. One thing, however, caused me deep anguish. I felt a strong urge to reach through the screen, place my hand on Edward's head, and, using the name of Jesus, cast out that demon. How agonizing to watch Edward being tortured and used that way! This led me to see clearly the importance of the spiritual work the church does in prisons. What Nefarious does to Edward in the film is a little of what evil wants to do to everyone. But imagine someone locked in a cell 24 hours a day, in a place infested with demons, without access to the outside world, without anyone to pray for them, without a Bible... what chance can they have? And if the main being responsible for evil and the wrong choices people make does not die, what is the point of wanting those it uses to die? How can we know who Edward would be without Nefarious? One of the film's greatest strengths is treating the subject in the least religious way possible. The word "demon" immediately evokes a religious image, but if these beings exist, they are about reality, not religion. Disbelieving something that exists does not make it cease to exist. It only means you do not know how to defend yourself. In my opinion, Nefarious is not about demonic possession; it is about evil's action in society, spiritual warfare, and that war's main battlefield: the human mind. Even if you do not believe, it would be interesting to consider: "What if it were true... would it make sense?" And yes, it does. It is not a horror film, some critics cried. How could it not be? A film that takes place entirely within an interview with a demon, an exclusively evil being, is pure horror. Everything worst in this world comes from these creatures. The problem is realizing that if Nefarious is a horror film, human life on this demon-infested earth is too. There is little we can do beyond making the right choice while still in this life to leave evil's domain, so God can defend us. It is the only way to ensure we spend eternity far from anything resembling what Nefarious and his accomplices did here. I had not seen such an intelligent film in a long time. Although Christian, it takes care to use language understandable to non-Christians and avoids stereotyping opposing views (although it may irritate some more radical activists). But it lays the truth bare. It is well worth watching. Take advantage of its streaming availability and watch it two or three times, paying attention to details. I guarantee it will open your understanding. ***About the author:** Vanessa Lampert - Writer, journalist, and screenwriter, with a degree in marketing, an MBA in digital journalism, and specializations in investigative journalism, neuroscience, and media discourse analysis.* --- ### Watch the trailer ### [Vídeo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1i3YtL24nU) ### Where and when to watch Since 09/12, the film has been available in 3 languages (original English, dubbed in Portuguese and Spanish), exclusively for Univer Vídeo subscribers in Brazil, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, South Africa, Mozambique, and Angola. In the remaining Latin American countries, from 01/02/24. ### **An incentive for you** ### Use coupon NEFARIOUS15 and get 15% off your Univer Vídeo subscription to watch the film that will shock you and Brazil. [Click here and enjoy.](https://univer.video/3R8E5rb) ### **General information** ### Original title: Nefarious Release year: 2023 Rating: Ages 14 and up Runtime: 1h 37m Directors: Chuck Konzelman; Cary Solomon Wiki: *Nefarious is a 2023 American independent Christian horror film written and directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon, based on Steve Deace's 2016 novel A Nefarious Plot. It stars Jordan Belfi as a psychiatrist who must determine whether a death-row inmate (Sean Patrick Flanery) is faking his alleged demonic possession. The film was released on April 14, 2023.*