Fallen(1998) - Movie Review

When we think of demons in a movie we instinctively think of 'The Conjuring' franchise or Constantine. What do these movies have in common? Well, they depict demons as something to steer clear of, rightfully so. If chasing demons results in me being pinned down by some possessed wedding dress lady and having her projectile vomit tar into my mouth then I'm more than happy to let other people play hide-and-seek with evil entities. This is hardly the case in Nicholas Kazan's Fallen. Instead, we have a more conversational escapade with the hell-dweller. 

We meet Det. John Hobbes(Denzel Washington) as he is waiting for the execution of serial killer Edger Reese. You would think the electric chair would be the end of a normal human being. Not necessarily. Not if something is living inside them. Reese's demon, which is later revealed to be Azazel: the evil spirit of the wilderness, continues to haunt Hobbes using other people as a proxy. Hobbes, a man who hardly affiliates with religion, goes beyond himself and faces Azazel head-on. 

Besides his unworldly fearlessness and the fact that he draws a blank on what the inside of a church looks like, Hobbes has some relatable characteristics about him. After Azazel shows just how close he can get to Hobbes' family(a power play on the demon's part), Hobbes understandably gets frightened and desperate and you know what they say about desperation; it leads to desperate measures and I ain't talkin' no exorcism. 

An overwhelming majority of movies are based on the Good vs. Evil premise. This is especially evident in action, MCU, and horror movies, and, in a very self-evident way, that's the struggle in Fallen, too. There's Azazel, a demon, which is a perfect example of evil by anyone's standards. Fighting for what's right and all that is good is Hobbes, a man who admittedly doesn't have anything to do with religion but is somehow holy enough to go toe-to-toe with a demon. Many scholars and even authors agree that evil is perpetual, and this is something the movie gives a nod to. What's more; according to the world's number one source of information Wikipedia, Azazel is a fallen angel but, at the same time, the movie also insinuates that Hobbes is the fallen angel. This left me a little puzzled as to who the movie title is referring to but it simultaneously creates a lasting sense of wonder.