"There are not many paths to take. Only two, in fact. You need to make your own choice." - Itti
I like how the film uses the first act to tell the antagonist and main protagonist's stories very well, portraying Itti as an overpowered sorcerer and Santi as the determined cop who will be the one to stop Itti. With the first act executed well, their first encounter happened shortly after a ceremony, which gave me goosebumps and made me believe their encounter at the end of the film will be epic.The strength of this film is the plot wrapped in mystery, the atmosphere, and the characters. It's not scary, but it was so intense from the beginning to the end, with a gripping atmosphere surrounding it. In line with the synopsis in Letterboxd, we witness how Santi over time turned into the person he wanted to put in prison, to the point where he fell too deep and couldn't come back, and he himself became the same kind of person as Itti. Tbh, Itti, and Santi were played very well by the actors.
The thing I've been waiting for while watching this film is the final battle between Itti and Santi, but it ends up not being as epic as I thought. I know this isn't Harry Potter, but at least they don't just keep punching each other. They did show off some of their black magic skills, but nothing special. Disappointing.
It's good but not enough. I still prefer Art of the Devil II & III when it comes to black magic or witchcraft film.
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