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Hellbenders is a horror-comedy movie released in 2012 directed by JT Petty, and it stars Clifton Collins Jr., Clancy Brown, Andre Royo, and Robyn Rikoon.
The movie follows the story of a group of highly unconventional exorcists who fight against demons, but instead of freeing innocent souls, they promote themselves as sinners who get possessed by demons to lure them into their trap.
The main characters are Father Angus, played by Clifton Collins Jr., who is the leader and one of the founding members of the team. Father Angus is a heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed man who enjoys trolling the demons and making them mad. Clancy Brown plays Stephen, a priest with a serious demeanor, who is also an extraordinary exorcist, with a peculiar fascination for weaponry. Andre Royo interprets Elizabeth, a woman who joined the group after experiencing a traumatic event that made her question her faith. Elizabeth is also dealing with depression and self-harm, and she uses her demonic possession as a way to numb her pain.

The team's goal is to capture a demon so evil that contact with it curses the whole city. The exorcists know that the demon resides in a house located in a remote forest in New Jersey and that one of them must commit suicide so that the demon can possess their soul temporarily, making them sinners and able to confront the demon.

As expected in such a group of misfits, the members have their issues and personal struggles. During a routine exorcism, they accidentally kill an innocent bystander, which brings police attention, delays their plan to catch the demon, and puts their organization at risk. They must deal with this situation while preparing for the ultimate confrontation with the demon.

The movie portrays a unique take on the classic concept of demon exorcisms. Its approach is refreshing, as it blends humor and horror in a balanced way, resulting in a movie that is both entertaining and thrilling. The cast members deliver excellent performances, and their characters' quirks and idiosyncrasies make them relatable and likable, even if they are performing actions that go against their faith.

The cinematography and visual effects are impressive, especially when they portray the demonic possessions, which are sometimes gruesome and sometimes comedic. The action sequences are well choreographed and intense, and the soundtrack adds to the movie's overall mood.

One of the movie's strengths is that it explores the personal lives of the characters, making them more than vessels for exorcisms. The themes of faith, depression, addiction, and guilt make the movie resonant beyond its genre. The movie never feels like a cheap exploitation of its subject matter but rather a commentary on religion and spirituality with authentic characters as its lens.

Overall, Hellbenders is a movie that defies categorization, as it intertwines horror and comedy with deep character development, delivering a unique and compelling story. It is a hilarious, thought-provoking, and exciting adventure that never fails to entertain.

Hellbenders is a 2013 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9 and a MetaScore of 43.