Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
While leading a police investigation of a massacre in a public school at the border of Mexico and U.S.A, special Agent Emanuel Ritter links this strange case to the coming and rising of the ancient demon Belzebuth. But in order to stop the trail of upcoming infanticides, Ritter shall have to confront himself before dealing with the forces of good and evil.
Belzebuth is a competent Mexican horror-thriller that blends police procedural with supernatural demonology in an interesting cross-border setting. The plot moves well and takes some unexpected turns, keeping tension reasonably high, though it ultimately leans on familiar possession and exorcism tropes. Acting is solid, particularly from Tobin Bell in a supporting role, though the lead performances are uneven. Cinematography is functional and occasionally atmospheric but not visually distinctive. The premise of linking infanticide investigations to demonic forces feels reasonably fresh within the Mexican horror context, but the overall framework is derivative of exorcism cinema. The ending deflates somewhat, falling back on genre conventions and resolving its ambitions less satisfyingly than the buildup suggested.