New Trailer Unveiled for Real-Time Exorcism Horror Bury the Devil
The first trailer has arrived for Bury the Devil, an upcoming supernatural horror film that promises to put a fresh spin on the well-worn exorcism subgenre. Shot as one continuous take and unfolding in real time, the film aims to immerse viewers in ninety relentless minutes of escalating terror with no opportunity to catch their breath.
Ahead of its release in select cinemas and on VOD from 21 August, the newly released trailer offers a tense first look at the claustrophobic nightmare awaiting audiences. Rather than relying on rapid-fire editing, the footage emphasises mounting dread, following its central character through a house where reality gradually begins to unravel and an unseen evil lurks behind every doorway.
Directed by Adam O’Brien from a screenplay by John Petrizzi and Brad Hodson, Bury the Devil follows nurse Julia, who becomes trapped inside the home of one of her dementia patients. As she searches for a way out, Julia begins to realise that something far more sinister than confusion or illness is at work. A demonic force appears to be seeping through the very fabric of the old house, twisting its environment into something increasingly nightmarish. With no escape and nowhere to turn for help, Julia is forced into a desperate fight to rid the home of the evil consuming it before it claims her as well.
The cast includes Dawn Ford, Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez, Bill Rowat and Mark Antony Krupa, with the film placing much of the burden on its central performance as the audience experiences events almost entirely from Julia’s perspective.
Single-take filmmaking has become an increasingly popular storytelling technique in recent years, with films such as Victoria (2015), Boiling Point (2021) and MadS (2024) demonstrating how continuous-shot cinematography can heighten tension and immerse audiences in unfolding events. Horror has experimented with the approach less frequently, making Bury the Devil an intriguing addition to the genre. By eliminating traditional edits and time jumps, the filmmakers hope to create the feeling that viewers are trapped alongside Julia, experiencing every terrifying discovery in real time.
Speaking previously about the project, director Adam O’Brien explained why the single-shot format was so important to his vision.
“This film depicts the most harrowing 90 minutes of our protagonist’s life, and I felt that the most visceral way to really feel this was to do a single-shot film. We are with her every step and misstep she takes – through the unraveling of the mystery to the horror of her discovery. It’s a fun, twisty roller-coaster ride that puts a new spin on exorcisms.”
The film also appears to be only the beginning of a much larger story. Bury the Devil has been conceived as the first chapter of a planned trilogy, with a prequel, Bury the Devil: Origin, already in development. O’Brien is set to return to direct, suggesting the filmmakers have broader mythology in mind beyond the events of this initial instalment.
Producing the film alongside O’Brien are Philip Kalin-Hajdu, whose previous credits include The Sacrifice Game, and Benoit Beaulieu, known for Turbo Kid.
Exorcism films have remained a staple of horror ever since The Exorcist redefined the subgenre in 1973, but audiences have become increasingly difficult to surprise. By combining supernatural horror with the relentless intensity of a real-time, continuous-shot presentation, Bury the Devil is attempting to distinguish itself from the countless possession films that have arrived over the past decade. Whether it succeeds remains to be seen, but the newly released trailer certainly suggests horror fans can expect a tense, claustrophobic experience when the film arrives later this month.
