Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Azrael’

10/30/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Samara Weaving as Azrael in E.L. Katz’s AZRAEL. (Photo Courtesy of Courtesy of Gabriela Urm. An IFC Films and Shudder Release.)

One particular tale from the Bible that continues to captivate people in this day and age, is the Book of Revelation. For it is a dark chapter in a book about hope and love, and it features some terrifying imagery for certain. The kind that speaks to a world that we hope to never see, since people suffer and toil as evil rules the land before the Messiah returns to save all of mankind. But what’s interesting about this chapter, is how little is outlined regarding what that period would look like. Which is unique simply because the Bible outlines so much to a tee, leaving some to wonder if that means we could potentially change course and avoid the surge of evil outlined in the book or if by chance… it is up to us to imagine how bad things could get. To ensure we avoid being left behind in the Rapture.

But such vagueness has of course, gone beyond imagination and brought about examination in popular media as well. Since some have ambitiously tried to fill in the blanks and create winding stories of good versus evil that feel very modern to make it relatable. While others have opted to tell far more grandiose interpretations of this book. Since Stephen King threw science into the mix in The Stand to shake up the mythos of this ancient tale. But what’s interesting is that few of these stories really showcase the suffering, the terror, of what this period in time is supposed to look like in the Bible. But that recently changed, thanks to the arrival of a brand-new horror feature on Shudder, Azrael. Which truly ponders upon the what the world would look like during that dark chapter.

A feat that it accomplishes by taking us into the heart of the Earth, long after the Rapture has taken place and well… those left behind are so stunned and so shocked by the fact that the Bible was real after all, that society collapses and humanity retreats to corners of the world to live in solitude to try and avoid the evil beings that now roam the countryside. While others… hope to appease them in the chance of being rewarded. Which is who we meet in this story, a colony of humans that are eager to offer sacrifice to fallen angels to keep the peace and perhaps find salvation. But one particular sacrifice, does not want to be fed to evil, and does her best to break free, and what follows for her, is a savage battle for survival, one grounded in revenge and a desire to see one more day in a hopeless world.

Which is a plot that perfectly fills in the blanks in question, and well, we come to learn that if we applied some real-world rules to the Bible (because despite our discussions of its gravity here, it is not confirmed to be real… we must make that clear), we learn that a life, post-Rapture, would be awful. One that would be filled chaos because well… humanity simply would not be able to process the gravity and the reality of the situation and the ending that awaits all, and this is a stroke of genius storytelling wise. Because it tends to reflect some real-world truths about us when we are at our lowest and it paints a terrifying picture of a terrifying book that just about everyone has read in some capacity.

But of course, this is more than just an examination of what that world would look like, it’s a horror story as well and there is plenty of that to be found here. Since the ‘demons’ that roam the woods are outright terrifying and savage and truly chill you to the bone with their appearance and hunger for human flesh. And since this story showcases us at our very lowest, we are privy to just… ugly… ugly moments of savagery. Of a humanity no longer concerned with the rules or taking the high road because it all doesn’t matter in the end. Giving rise to a horribly bleak horror film, one that also does not skimp on the gore or the scares, courtesy of our brutality and courtesy of those hideous monsters that roam the countryside.

All of which makes for an amazing horror film. One that deserves our awe and our applause. For it truly is a hardcore feature, one that holds nothing back in its portrayal of the dragged-out end of everything for the wicked that the Bible has promised us, and it also forces us to sink into the horror of the moment through the use of silence, since few people speak in this tale. Which allows for Samara Weaving to shine as Azrael and sell everything through raw emotion and truly, this is that rare horror feature that unsettles you so deeply… that you are left listless when it is done. Because of its devastating nature and its stark reminder that we are indeed capable of great cruelty and when it takes root in our world… so many suffer.

Watch ‘Azrael’

0 Comments