Exorcising The Enemy
“When people talk to you about ‘The Exorcist’ talk to them about ‘The Enemy.’ ” So reads the descriptive blurb of Ken Anderson’s new seventy-minute, color film portraying demon possession and biblical exorcism.
The Enemy is based on the true story of what Tim and Betsy, a young couple, encounter as youth sponsors in an evangelical church. Among the teenagers they work with, Bob and Jack seem like quite ordinary brothers except that they come from a broken home where the mother has numerous boyfriends and the stepfather punctuates his orders with gun-threats. Bob and Jack talk about spirit “guardians” and always leave youth meetings when it comes time for Bible study.
At an interchurch couples’ retreat, Tim and Betsy participate in a discussion on the church’s attitude toward the occult. After Betsy mentions the brothers’ rumored experimentation with blood sacrifices, an older couple warn that the situation has the earmarks of occultism.
Tim remains skeptical until confronted with a startling demonstration of demon possession in one of the brothers. After haltingly exorcising the demons, Tim and Betsy spend long hours studying Scripture passages related to demonism. They are better prepared for a second battle with satanic forces in the other brother. Both brothers are released from the power of the occult and become Christians, although, as the epilogue states, they will still wrestle with the behavioral problems stemming from their background.
“We want Christians to realize that Satan is real,” says film-director Jim Grant, and “demons … are at work in the world today.” Grant and producer Heinz Fussle took special pains to avoid sensationalism, though to a degree any film on the supernatural will be sensational, if it is to be realistic.
The film has some rather obvious suspense-heightening techniques: much of the action is staged at night in dimly lit surroundings, eerie music is heard at appropriate points, and there is a timed countdown with life or death at the zero hour. The sound quality varies disconcertingly, sometimes fading to an inaudible whisper, at other times crackling with static.
The guide to the film warns that it is not recommended for children under thirteen, but in fact biblical teaching should precede the showing of this film to any age group. After the viewing, an experienced Christian should be prepared to answer questions that will inevitably arise.
The Enemy accomplishes a two-fold purpose: it educates the Christian public to the reality of Satan and demonstrates the victorious power of Jesus Christ. The film can be rented for $42 from Ken Anderson Films, P.O. Box 618, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590.
CAROL PRESTER MCFADDEN1Carol Prester McFadden is a consultant to the Christian College Consortium, Washington, D. C.
Swimming And Sportsmanship
Big Splash combines action-packed swimming footage with an engaging plot in a thirty-minute color film (16mm) geared to ages eight through fifteen. Ted, a swimmer on the school team, works hard but somehow always loses to Scott, who teases him about being slow as a turtle. Ted’s Christian family and coach support him and encourage his swimming efforts. More importantly, they are concerned about his poor sportsmanship. Eventually, Ted gets his attitude straightened out and learns that being a Christian involves more than winning or losing. This film rents for $25 and is available from Ken Anderson Films, P.O. Box 618, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590.
C. P. McF.
