Diabolic directed by South Australian visionary Daniel J. Phillips, this 2025 supernatural chiller centers on Elise (Elizabeth Cullen), a desperate woman seeking solace in a miracle healing ceremony orchestrated by the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints. What begins as a beacon of hope, spirals into a vortex of vengeful hauntings, as the spirit of a long-cursed witch latches onto Sarah, intent on hijacking her body for its own sinister doings. The story comes from real experiences of co-writer Ticia Madsen, who grew up in a strict religious group. Director Daniel J. Phillips turns this into a scary movie that also makes you think about how religion can control people.
Phillips, fresh off his triumphs like Awoken, demonstrates a masterful escalation in Diabolic, blending folkloric dread with psychological unraveling. The film’s opening sequences, bathed in the golden haze of Utah sunsets (filmed ingeniously in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges), lure viewers into a deceptive calm. Elizabeth Cullen plays Elise, and she is amazing. She shows how Elise goes from hopeful to terrified. Her eyes look scared one minute and angry the next. When the witch takes over, Cullen screams and moves in a wild way that gives you chills. You really feel sorry for Elise. She fights to stay herself, even when everyone around her wants to control her.
The movie is about more than ghosts. It shows how some religions hurt women and take away their choices. The witch was killed long ago for being different. Now she fights back the same way Elise fights the church. There are small clues hidden in the movie for people who look closely. The scares are smart. Phillips waits a long time before jumping out at you.
Diabolic is one of the best horror movies of 2025. It looks and sounds amazing for a small Australian film. Elizabeth Cullen gives a powerful performance. Diabolic dares to possess something original: your undivided attention, and perhaps a sliver of your faith’s underbelly.
Diabolic special event screenings from 20 November
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