Suitable Flesh (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)
“Suitable Flesh” may lack an explanation regarding what is happening, but you’ll be so locked in you may forget your questions until after the movie is over.
Film Summary
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Asa is possessed by something that wants his body, and so he seeks out Beth, a psychologist, for help. She assumes the young man just has paranoid schizophrenia. However, as she grows attached to him and investigates, she learns not only is her diagnosis wrong but something sinister is going on.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Asa
Asa is a young man battling with a demon that is trying to take over his body and, after three times of being possessed, he claims the switch is permanent.
- The Actor Is Also Known For: Their role in “The Babysitter” as well as its sequel, “The Babysitter: Killer Queen.”
Beth
Beth is a psychologist who finds more fulfillment in her work than she does her marriage.
Dr. Upton
Dr. Upton is Beth’s best friend, and potentially the only one who can help her as the demon haunting Asa becomes too much for Beth to fight off alone.
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Highlights
The Ever Rising Madness
What “Suitable Flesh” does best is steadily raise the stakes and the madness. It goes from a boy who may just have issues, to meeting his crazed father, an affair, back-and-forth possessions, and then violence. The combination makes it so you are never bored for there is always something going on. I’d even add in, even with the level of escalation we see, and that being the main selling point, you don’t lose what you could feel for the characters, even with not learning much in the way about them.
On The Fence
Only The Sensationalized Bits Feel Memorable
Originally when writing this, I was going to talk about how the humor can be hit or miss, but only a day separated from the film, I can’t remember a single joke or even a moment. Yes, the demon or entity was weird, and sometimes vulgar, and had a few comical moments. However, as a whole, I feel that “Suitable Flesh” suffers from is that it doesn’t have a standout moment or performance really.
Like many horror movies, it is only really the imagery that is memorable. Be it seeing Lewis’ body chopped up with the skin peeling off, the contortions done when the entity switched bodies, or the handful of nude scenes which has Graham topless. But as for getting that type of moment, performance, or hearing the kind of dialog that makes you think, this is someone I should know or follow? You don’t get that.
Mind you, this isn’t to say this is a bad film. More so, it feels like the kind of horror movies that aren’t released in wide theatrical release anymore because they are just about sex and violence and haven’t much to offer beyond that.
No Explanation On What This Demonic Entity Is
This is not the type of demon monster movie that wants to give you an origin, have the heroes go on an adventure to figure out how to banish it, or anything like that. You’re just dropped in the middle of it, watching the entity body hoping and almost given this feeling of watching a “Child’s Play” alternate story if Chucky left Andy alone and ventured off elsewhere. Never mind he knew better spells that didn’t take forever and a day to work.
General Information
| Director(s) | Joe Lynch |
| Screenplay By | H.P. Lovecraft, Dennis Paoli |
| Based On | “The Thing on the Doorstep,” by H.P. Lovecraft |
| Date Released (Film Festival – Tribeca Film Festival) | June 11, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Horror, Thriller |
| Film Length | 1 Hour 40 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Not Rated |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Asa | Judah Lewis |
| Beth | Heather Graham |
| Dr. Upton | Barbara Crampton |
Things To Note
Why Is “Suitable Flesh” Rated Not Rated
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Gun violence, blood, open wounds, and depiction of a desecrated body
- Sexual Content: Nudity and sexual situations featuring bare breasts and depiction of buttocks
- Miscellaneous: drinking and smoking
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FAQs
Why Is the Film Called “Suitable Flesh?”
Due to the demon or entity which jumps from one body to another, seeking a host it finds suitable.
How Was The Twist(s) and Ending?
Let’s just say there isn’t a twist and the end of this film does leave room for a sequel.
Is There A Mid-Credit or Post Credits Scene?
No
