Prey for the Devil

As a result of an alarming surge in cases of demonic possession worldwide, the Catholic Church has authorized institutions outside Rome to train priests in the ancient art of exorcism. This significant shift in policy sets the stage for a gripping tale of faith and deliverance.

In the opening scene, young Ann (Debora Zhecheva) is alone in her room, her door locked firmly against the world. Her mother's repeated knocks and pleas to be let in are met with stubborn silence. The door remains sealed until the mother's desperation turns violent, as she begins pounding her head against the wood, her eyes clouded by an otherworldly force.

Years later, Ann (Jacqueline Byers) has dedicated herself to a life of devotion, serving as a nun at St. Michael the Archangel School of Exorcism in Boston. Her duties include tending to patients' daily needs, a role she discharges with compassion and care. It is during this time that she forms a bond with Natalie (Posy Taylor), a young patient whose fragile existence serves as a poignant reminder of the darkness that lurks beyond.

Ann's curiosity about the intricacies of exorcism frequently gets the better of her, leading her to sneak into classes taught by Father Quinn (Colin Salmon). However, this forbidden knowledge attracts attention, and she is reprimanded for her transgression. As nuns are not permitted to learn the ways of exorcism, it falls to priests like Father Quinn to perform these sacred rituals.

One fateful afternoon, while bathing a patient, Ann is suddenly attacked by an unseen force. The possessed individual's voice is unmistakable, echoing the words once spoken by her own mother during a terrifying episode. This harrowing encounter is captured on security footage, and Father Quinn is convinced that Ann is now in grave danger, making it essential for her to learn how to defend herself.

Following a successful intervention from the Cardinal, Ann is granted permission to attend exorcism classes under Father Quinn's guidance. The stakes are raised when she witnesses an exorcism in progress, only to discover that the possessed individual is none other than Natalie, her young friend. Two students, Father Dante and Father Raymond, are tasked with leading the ritual, but it quickly spirals out of control. As chaos ensues, Father Quinn attempts to reclaim control, but Natalie's demonic entity proves too powerful.

In a desperate bid to turn the tide, Ann bursts into the room, using her own connection to Natalie to appeal to the demon and ultimately drive it back. Though initially hailed as a triumph, the exorcism is later revealed to be incomplete, as the demon had simply retreated in the face of threat rather than being vanquished. The somber reality of Natalie's terminal condition serves as a poignant reminder that the battle against evil is far from won.

As the malevolent force continues to torment Ann, she undertakes an in-depth examination of medical records from individuals deemed incurable. With the guidance of Father Dante (actor's name), Ann gains access to a hidden archive of patient files, only to discover that one woman, Natalie, had defied mortality. However, Ann's own face bears the gruesome scars of a previous exorcism, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that befell the other patients.

Father Dante later reveals his deepest concern: he believes his pregnant sister is being possessed by an evil entity and implores Ann to lead an unauthorized exorcism. Despite her initial reservations, Ann agrees to help, drawing on her past experience with Natalie. After a grueling session, Ann successfully frees Father Dante's sister from the demon's grasp.

In a poignant moment of introspection, Ann confides in Father Dante about her own complicated history: she had become pregnant before taking the veil and, instead of raising her daughter herself, chose to surrender her to adoption shortly after birth. This revelation serves as a precursor to the harrowing events that will soon unfold.

The next day, Ann is summoned to a meeting with Father Quinn and the Cardinal, where she learns that Father Dante's sister, who had been freed from possession just days prior, has tragically taken her own life. Shaken by this development, Ann decides to retreat to the sanctuary of St. Mary's Monastery.

Father Dante later pays Ann a visit at St. Mary's, bearing news that Natalie has been released from the hospital. However, his optimism is short-lived, as Natalie soon relapses and is rushed back to the hospital in an ambulance. When the vehicle arrives, the doors slide open to reveal a gruesome scene: Natalie has slaughtered everyone inside. Father Dante presents Ann with a necklace found in Natalie's hand - the very same token Ann had given her newborn daughter when she was first placed for adoption, thereby revealing the shocking truth that Natalie is, in fact, Ann's long-lost child.

Dante convinces Ann to join him in another unauthorized exorcism, this time sneaking her into the catacombs beneath St. Michael's Church where Natalie is being held. As the ritual unfolds, Natalie ultimately breaks free and unleashes a bloody rampage, claiming the lives of several priests, including Father Raymond. In a desperate bid to save her daughter, Ann convinces the demonic entity to relinquish Natalie and take her instead. The spirit obliges, abandoning Natalie and invading Sister Ann's body in the process.

As Ann's psyche succumbs to malevolent forces, she becomes a relentless pursuer of Natalie within the labyrinthine catacombs. With calculated precision, Ann eliminates Dante, leaving him motionless and helpless on the cold stone floor. Meanwhile, Natalie seeks refuge near a tranquil fountain, its surface adorned with the sacred waters that possess purifying properties. However, Ann's demonic alter ego relentlessly closes in, driven by an insatiable hunger to claim Natalie as its own. As the possessed Ann launches herself at her unsuspecting prey, Natalie cowers in fear, her only solace the promise of salvation provided by the holy water.

As Ann's dual nature wages a brutal battle within her own body, she finds herself slipping beneath the surface of the fountain, the sacred waters coursing through her veins like a cleansing balm. The demon that had taken hold of her slowly begins to dissipate, banished from her mortal form. As Ann emerges from the water, gasping for air, she is greeted by Natalie and Dante, their faces etched with concern and relief.

Ann's subsequent recovery in the hospital is marred only by the cruel reality that her reunion with Natalie is short-lived, as the girl must bid her farewell to embark on a new journey. As Ann prepares to depart, she is granted a coveted academic scholarship to study at the Vatican, a prestigious institution steeped in ancient wisdom and mystique. As she bids farewell to Father Quinn, he imbues her with a knowing glance, hinting that he has long been aware of the true nature of this young woman who had so recently faced the depths of hell.

As Ann departs for the airport, ensconced in the cab's warmth, she is suddenly confronted by a mysterious figure sporting white eyes. The cab driver, once her trusted guide, now sits beside her in the backseat, his eyes vacant and unseeing. Seizing her crucifix with a sense of foreboding, Ann prepares to face this new threat, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she has yet again found herself at the mercy of malevolent forces. As the cab hurtles through the city streets, the darkness closing in around her, the screen fades to black, leaving only one certainty: Ann's next battle is already within sight.