Review: With 'Agnes," Too Many Ideas Will Leave You Scratching Your Head

So, this is a weird one. The trailer for the new "horror" film "Agnes" looks like a balls-to-the wall supernatural possession film. There is a nun that is clearly possessed, objects that move around the convent, doors that open and close by themselves, and exorcists called to help. Oh, and it's sort of a comedy, too.

The problem is that's only the first half of the film. The remaining 45 minutes is a straight drama about a nun who has left the convent and has a crisis of faith. During this portion of the film there are a few moments of potential possession activity, but they aren't explored and the whole thing ends up being more about the nun deciding if she did the right thing and how she attempts to adapt to living in the world again. It's literally a different movie altogether and, it doesn't really work. Although, you can't help but be intrigued trying to figure out where it's all going.

The first half is a little startling because, again, it's being billed as a straight horror film, but you find yourself laughing out loud at the characters and situations inside the nunnery. That's clearly the intention. Between the non-believer alcoholic – and possibly pedophilic – priest, Father Donaghue (Ben Hall), arriving with ultra-serious Deacon Benjamin (Jake Horowitz) to do a fake exorcism, and the flashy Father Black (Chris Browning) who comes in to save the day, to the myriad of nuns with odd personalities, it's sort of a barrel of laughs; you go with it.

But in the background is Mary (Molly C. Quinn), looking beatific at all times (where'd she get the lipstick?) and worried for her possessed friend Agnes (Hayley McFarland) – who, by the way, is barely even the subject of the film. Mary is always concerned and is taking her friend's state of mind seriously, so much so that she ends up leaving once Agnes gets taken away.

It feels like director/writer Mickey Reece wanted to keep the audience off balance by making us assume that Agnes was the lead character, crafting a story funnier than expected, and then doing an 180 degree turn into drama territory. Once Mary leaves the convent, we shift solely to her, and how she spends her days praying and contemplating, oftentimes at the local laundry mat. She works at a grocery store where she mopes around and tries to avoid her awful boss, played by "This is Us" star Chris Sullivan.

Sean Gunn ("Gilmore Girls" and brother to James Gunn) shows up as Agnes' ex and a possible love interest for Mary. And while their courtship keeps you on edge, it adds to the confusion as to what this half of the movie really wants to say.

There are a lot of interesting moments and bigger questions in "Agnes," but in trying to surprise his audience, it seems he might have left many of them scratching their heads. There's a lot to like about it, but ultimately the film ends with you starting at the screen in disbelief that it just cut to black.

The film is possessed by ideas, some of which probably should have been exorcised.

"Agnes" will be on VOD and in theaters nationwide on December 10th.