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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNefarious (2023) stands out less for its horror conventions than for what it does with them. Its makers say the demon-possession framing exists to carry an explicit Christian account of God, evil, and spiritual warfare, and they built their marketing around reaching horror viewers who would not normally choose a faith film. The film’s distinctiveness is best understood as a deliberate collision between audience expectations and a stated religious purpose. Whether it is literally unlike every other Christian horror movie is a claim about the creators’ approach, not something that can be checked against the whole genre.
The film at a glance
The details below come from the film’s Rotten Tomatoes listing as accessed on October 8, 2026, and from release coverage. Streaming and rental details change, so the last row should be checked against your region.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year and genre | 2023; English-language horror, mystery, and thriller |
| Directors and writers | Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, who both direct and write |
| Distributor | Soli Deo Gloria Releasing |
| Rating | R, listed for disturbing violent content |
| Runtime | 98 minutes |
| Wide theatrical release | April 14, 2023 |
| Streaming release | June 2, 2023 |
The setup: a psychiatric evaluation on the day of execution
The story centers on a convicted serial killer scheduled for execution. Shortly before the sentence is carried out, he receives a psychiatric evaluation. He claims he is a demon, and he predicts that the psychiatrist assigned to him will commit three murders.
The National Catholic Register describes the evaluation as the product of a last-minute court order, requiring a psychiatrist to determine whether the inmate is feigning behavior to avoid execution. That framing matters for how the film works: the question of whether the man is mentally ill, manipulative, or something else is a legal and psychological puzzle before it becomes a theological one.
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CBN’s release-period interview describes the film as focused on two characters in one room, the inmate and the psychiatrist. Most of the tension is built through conversation rather than set pieces, and the debate about faith, evil, and the nature of the demon carries much of the drama.
Why the filmmakers call it a spiritual battle
Co-writer and co-director Chuck Konzelman summarized the film’s purpose in an interview with the National Catholic Register (April 17, 2023):
“In this film, the audience finds out what the demons have known all along — that we’re not really in a cultural battle; we’re in a spiritual battle. And the battle takes place one soul at a time.”
Rank #2
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That sentence is the clearest statement of the film’s argument, and it reframes the usual genre question. Demon stories usually ask whether the supernatural is real. Konzelman’s version asks the viewer to accept a specific theology of spiritual conflict and then to see the demon as the one who understands it.
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The filmmakers say the horror imagery and poster were intended to draw in mainstream horror viewers, including people who would not ordinarily seek out a faith film, and then bring them into a story with a Christian message. Konzelman called the poster a “Trojan horse” for that purpose. This is the filmmakers’ stated marketing intent. It describes what they set out to do, not how every viewer experienced the film.
The motive the filmmakers give
CBN reported that Solomon and Konzelman hoped the film would get people who would not go near a church to think about what they call a spiritual battle. In the same release-period coverage, Cary Solomon explained the reason for making it: “It’s something that we felt called to do.” The quote is about motivation, not a claim about the film’s quality or reception.
Rank #3
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The demon as a mouthpiece
Because the demon character voices the worldview the filmmakers want viewers to confront, the film asks the audience to test that worldview against the psychiatrist’s responses. The filmmakers’ stated aim is that the story will lead to discussion about faith and evil. That makes the film a conversation starter as much as a scare machine, and it is the feature that divides viewers most.
The novel behind the film
The film was inspired by Steve Deace’s novel A Nefarious Plot. Deace told The Stream: “This movie serves as a prequel of sorts to my book A Nefarious Plot.” He added that several lines from the book are quoted in the film and that the movie shows the origin of the book’s story.
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The rating, and what it does and does not tell you
The film is rated R, and the Rotten Tomatoes listing specifies disturbing violent content as the reason. Parents and viewers sensitive to violence should weigh that descriptor directly.
Separately, the directors told the National Catholic Register that the film contains no sex or bad language. That is their own description and should be read as such. It is not a substitute for the official rating descriptor, which points to violence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why critics and audiences split
On Rotten Tomatoes, accessed October 8, 2026, the film showed a 32% Tomatometer (19 reviews) and a 96% Popcornmeter (1,000+ verified ratings). Those are platform-specific page figures from a single snapshot. They are not a representative survey of all critics or viewers, and they may change.
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The critics’ consensus on the same page says the film is well-mounted with solid performances, but criticizes its heavy-handed proselytizing. The audience summary is much warmer, calling it a thought-provoking story with intense dialogue and strong acting. The gap lines up with the film’s central choice. The explicit faith message is the feature that many audiences praised and many critics found too insistent.
The split does not prove that all critics dislike religious content or that all audiences share the filmmakers’ theology. It shows that the same overt argument can read as persuasive, preachy, or both depending on the viewer.
Who the film is likely to suit
Viewers tend to approach Nefarious from one of two directions. The table below compares the film’s strengths for each, based on its stated design and the reception pattern above.
| Question | Horror-first viewer | Faith-focused viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Value of atmosphere and tension | The premise supplies a death-row setting and a possession claim, but the film is restrained and dialogue-led. | Atmosphere matters less than whether the theological argument is serious and coherent. |
| Tolerance for explicit religious argument | Likely to find the sermonizing the main obstacle, as some critics did. | Likely to see the argument as the purpose of the film. |
| Dialogue versus supernatural spectacle | Viewers who want frequent scares may find long conversations slow. | Viewers drawn to conversation-driven drama will find the central two-room structure the main draw. |
| Comfort with R-rated content | Needs to accept the R rating for disturbing violence. | Needs to accept the same rating, which is independent of the film’s faith content. |
Where to watch, and what to check first
The Rotten Tomatoes page, as accessed on October 8, 2026, listed Prime Video as a subscription option and Fandango for rental or purchase. Platform availability is region-specific and changes often, so confirm the current listing where you live before planning to watch. A current Blu-ray or DVD edition was not confirmed at the time of writing.
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- Check the rating and descriptor before deciding whether the film suits you.
- Confirm the streaming or rental option available in your country.
- If you plan to read the novel first, check a retailer for the current edition, since Deace describes the film as a prequel of sorts rather than an adaptation.
The Bottom Line
Nefarious is distinctive because its creators treat a demon-possession thriller as a vehicle for an explicit Christian argument, and they say they designed its marketing to reach viewers who would not otherwise choose a faith film. Its reception shows how sharply that choice divides people: the critics’ consensus objects to the preaching, while the audience summary praises the dialogue and performances.
Quick Recap
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