We’ve had zombies*, demons, vampires and ghosts. This film is about a dybbuk* — the Judaic* version of the possessing spirit. With not much to see towards the end of the summer vacation, this film topped the North American box office last week.

A wooden box, carved with Hebrew* characters, was bought by the Brenek family. Father Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has been separated from his ex-wife Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) for a year, making life hard for young daughters Hannah (Madison Davenport) and 10-year-old Em (Natasha Calis).

Em asks her dad to buy her the box, not knowing that its previous owner, an elderly woman, has become immobilized* in bed after being handled by the dybbuk inside it.

The dybbuk soon finds a new host in the young girl who starts showing violent, anti-social behavior. While her behavior is not unusual for a troubled teenager, an invasion* of giant moths* in her bedroom draws attention.

After a talk with a professor, Clyde goes to Borough Park, Brooklyn. There he gets the help of Tzadok (played by Matisyahu), son of a rabbi*.

After an examination that shows dybukks on MRIs*, they have to practice exorcism*.

Director Ole Bornedal scares the audience with ear-shattering bursts of volume, stopping scenes with blackouts* and frightening piano chords.

Calis acts well, but her character is not very frightening, with her possession often signaled by dark eye shadow that makes her look like a young goth* star. (SD-Agencies)