Divination wastes no time throwing viewers into “pure spiritual warfare”. This 2012 faith-based indie thriller was a passion project for writer-director Ben Pohl (a Minneapolis filmmaker) under the Deskpop Entertainment banner. In it, supernatural forces literally clash in a suburban home: Jason (D’Angelo Midili) and his wife Jessica (Natasha Sims) are overjoyed by their first pregnancy and the uncanny return of their mysterious friend Dee (Lisa Coronado). But behind this happy moment lurks a violent battle of good vs. evil. As Deskpop’s official synopsis puts it, “Jason is tormented by Fear (Tucker Boggio)… as he descends deeper into madness an intervention is made by the powerful angel Joshua (Philipp Aurand) and his eager assistant Daniel”. The film premiered on the Christian film festival circuit around 2011 and only saw a DVD release in October 2015. FishFlix’s write-up calls it a “gripping thriller” in the style of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness series – indeed, Divination wears its spiritual-warrior intent on its sleeve and was even marketed with a “Faith-Based” seal by the Dove Foundation.
Plot and Themes
At its core Divination is an explicit good-vs-evil parable. Jason’s ability to see angels and demons – a gift he inherited from his father – becomes a curse during the film. He suffers waking nightmares as a demon named Fear whispers dark premonitions, threatening his wife and unborn child. The couple’s joy turns to terror when their old friend Dee returns under strange circumstances. As one Spanish synopsis puts it, “Jason… feliz con su primer embarazo… pero Jason está atormentado por el miedo que continuamente susurra pesadillas… el poderoso ángel Josué y su asistente Daniel intervienen”. In other words, Jason’s descent into paranoia draws the direct intervention of celestial warriors. A Romanian summary similarly notes that Fear drives Jason “into nightmares and hallucinations,” eventually prompting the angel Joshua (and assistant Daniel) to intervene. Along the way the film emphasizes Biblical-style lessons: free will is paramount (one blogger observes that if a person “allows a demon to enter his life, the angels are powerless” to save him, and occult practices (Dee’s “spirit guide” and blood-rituals) are portrayed as dangerous temptations. Family and faith are at stake: Jason’s father actually committed suicide under Fear’s influence, a detail that Jessica discovers late in the film (the Dove review notes she fears Jason is “losing his mind… especially when she learns Jason’s father committed suicide”). In short, Divination is unabashedly religious in theme: demons literally fight angels in Jason’s living room. (Even reviewers remark on the Christian mythology: one Letterboxd user quips the film is “steeped in Christian Mythos,” where “witchcraft and Divination… are portrayed as evil”
Performances and Cinematography
The cast were mostly newcomers, and it shows. Critics note the acting is uneven – often wooden – which is unsurprising on a micro-budget. As one Amazon reviewer observes, “the budget was relatively small… and the actors didn’t have a ton of experience”. Some performances are earnest, others stiff; one viewer notes some cast members “did quite well… however some… sounded as though they were reading the script for the first time”. On the plus side, many fans give credit to the film’s passion and effort. One fan review awarded 5 stars specifically for “effort,” praising the lighting and choreography: “A+ on all of those” aspects. For example, a night-forest sequence drew particular notice – an Amazon reviewer points out that “the lighting actually works well” in that shot, a feat for a film this cheap.
Visually, Divination is a mixed bag. The filmmakers clearly invested in CGI and effects (Deckpop’s description even boasts “madness meets magic”), and several viewers were amused by the over-the-top special effects on display. One Letterboxd user jokes that the movie “bought a pack of stock CG effects and by god they are going to use all of them” – a comment that captures the low-budget charm (rain of eyeballs and gun-blasts of light are used liberally). Another reviewer praises the “impressive” demon-on-angel fights. However, other critics are scathing about the technical side. A scathing blog review calls the production “a mess” with “shaky camera work,” “inconsistent audio,” “poor lighting,” and “tons of terrible special effects”. In short, the cinematography alternates between genuinely creative (surprisingly moody or well-framed) and amateurish (evidence of DSLR wiggles and CG seams). Overall, it’s polarizing: if you go in expecting a polished supernatural thriller, you’ll be let down; if you embrace it as earnest B-movie fodder, some scenes are energetic and lean into the schlockiness.
Critical and Audience Reception
Divination flew under the radar of mainstream critics – Rotten Tomatoes lists 0 critic reviews – but audience reactions are on record. The scores are middling at best. For example, IMDb shows a 4.0/10 user rating (from ~360 votes). Rotten Tomatoes reports a 53% “Popcorn” audience score (with no Tomatometer score at all). On genre sites, it’s similarly mixed: Cine.com (a Spanish film site) lists an average user score of about 4.1/5, echoing IMDb.
User reviews reflect the split: devout viewers often praise its message, while skeptics mock the execution. On the positive side, some Christian fans found it exciting. One Amazon reviewer gave 5 stars, conceding the flaws but applauding the creativity: “For the budget and experience… I have to give them a hand for the job they pulled off… We were pleasantly surprised by how good this was”. A Rotten Tomatoes audience member likewise wrote “I loved every minute of this movie… it’s a bit scary but it gives you insight into unseen spiritual forces… low budget but high price message”. Even some horror fans appreciate the absurd fun – a Letterboxd user delighted in the bloody angelic swordplay and camp tone (comparing it to a Christian version of the cult film Despiser).
On the negative side, critics (often non-Christian) attack the thin story and acting. Rotten Tomatoes user comments are brutal: one rants that it’s “absolutely pure hot garbage,” with “amateur” acting and terrible dialog. Another calls it “horrible… transparently biased… watch it for a good laugh, but don’t expect good art”. A low Letterboxd score comes with biting humor – for example, the user Tomozaurus quipped (★☆☆☆) that the filmmakers clearly “bought a pack of stock CG effects and by god they are going to use all of them”. In short, its reception is polarizing: the movie has a cult following among faith-based viewers who cheer its sincerity and effects, while most secular audiences see it as a campy, ill-made oddity.
Ratings (approximate): IMDb ~4.0/10; Rotten Tomatoes critical 0% (n/a), audience 53%; Letterboxd average roughly ★★–★★★ (mixed user reviews); Cine.com (Spanish) ~4.1/5
Streaming and Distribution
Divination never had a wide theatrical run or box office to speak of – it screened at festivals and went straight to home video. According to Deskpop and FishFlix, it was shown on the Christian film circuit in 2011 and only hit DVD in 2015. Internationally, it even aired on faith networks – for example, Romanian broadcaster Alfa Omega TV ran it in December 2014. Today it’s mostly found online or on niche platforms. In the US, streaming guides like JustWatch list it for free on ad-supported services: it’s available on The Roku Channel and Hoopla Digital, and also streams via Pluto TV. Viewers can also rent or buy it digitally (notably on Fandango at Home). In short, it’s easy to watch for free if you have a library card (Hoopla) or a streaming stick; the downside is that it never got a flashy Blu-ray release, and its marketing was limited to faith circles.
Verdict
Divination is a wild spiritual thriller that plays like a faith-based B-movie. It delivers spectacle (demons tearing flesh, angels wielding swords) in a way Christian films rarely attempt, but its execution is all over the map. Fans of over-the-top “spiritual warfare” will find it earnest and entertaining on a campy level, especially given the special effects and fight scenes. However, most viewers will be distracted by the amateur acting, wobbly camerawork, and on-the-nose messaging.
Final Rating: 2.5/5.
In the end, Divination is a niche curiosity – admirable for ambition on a shoestring budget, but best enjoyed with low expectations. It’s worth a watch for curious horror fans or the devout looking for something outside the usual faith-film mold, but it’s unlikely to win over casual viewers.