Diabolic is a 2025 Australian horror film that blends psychological dread with religious trauma. The film is directed by Daniel J. Phillips and co-written by Mike Harding and Ticia Madsen. It stars Elizabeth Cullen, John Kim, Mia Challis, Luca Asta Sardelis.
The story follows Elise (Elizabeth Cullen), who suffered a traumatic possession-like experience during a baptism ceremony as a teenager in 2015. Ten years later, she has left the church and is trying to live a normal life — but something is still wrong. She keeps losing time and behaving strangely without any memory of it. On her doctor’s advice, she undergoes immersion therapy to confront her trauma and unlock her repressed memories. What she uncovers turns out to be far darker than expected.
What sets this film apart from most horror movies is its setting. Rather than the usual Catholic church framework that dominates the genre, Diabolic centers its story within the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) — an extremist offshoot of the Mormon church — territory that has rarely, if ever, been explored in horror before.
Diabolic Age Rating
Diabolic is not officially rated by the MPAA in the United States. Based on its content, it is best considered R – Restricted (17+) for strong bloody violence, disturbing religious themes, and intense horror sequences. This is adult-focused horror with graphic third-act violence and emotionally heavy subject matter involving cult dynamics and trauma.
What Parents Need to Know
Violence & Gore
Reviewers widely note that the first two acts of the film are restrained and atmospheric, focusing more on psychological dread than outright gore. However, the third act escalates sharply. Multiple critics describe the finale as delivering brutal kills and strong scares, with the practical effects being a standout element. The level of violence in the climax is significantly more intense than the opening of the film suggests.
Frightening Scenes & Horror Imagery
The film is built on sustained, creeping dread. It involves possession imagery, dark ritualistic sequences, and a supernatural threat centered on a baptism ceremony gone wrong. The opening scene alone — depicting a young girl’s traumatic baptism — sets an immediately disturbing tone. The horror builds slowly and deliberately, which many viewers find more unsettling than jump-scare-heavy films.
Themes
The thematic content here is arguably the heaviest category. Diabolic is fundamentally about religious trauma, cult dynamics, and psychological damage. It portrays an extremist religious institution as abusive and controlling, with faith being used as a mechanism of manipulation. The film also deals with repressed memory and dissociation in a grounded, realistic way. Viewers who have personally experienced controlling religious environments or cult settings may find this content particularly distressing.
Age Recommendation
| Audience | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Children under 13 | Not Appropriate |
| Teens aged 13–16 | Not Recommended |
| Mature Teens 16–17 | Parental Discretion Strongly Advised |
| Adults 18+ | Appropriate (with content awareness) |
| Adults Sensitive to Religious Trauma | Proceed With Care |
Is Diabolic Suitable for Teens?
Ages 13–15: No. The disturbing religious themes and graphic third-act violence make this inappropriate for young teens.
Ages 16–17: With Strong Guidance. Mature teens who regularly watch serious horror may handle it, but the emotional weight is heavy.
Adults 18+: Yes, if comfortable with intense horror. Adults familiar with psychological and religious horror should be prepared for a violent climax.
Overall, Diabolic is best suited for viewers 17 and older, with caution for anyone sensitive to religious trauma themes.
Comparable Films
If you are familiar with these films, Diabolic sits in similar territory:
- The VVitch (2015) — slow-burn religious folk horror
- Hereditary (2018) — escalating dread, graphic climax, family trauma
- The Last Thing Mary Saw (2021) — religious community horror
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Diabolic (2025)?
A: Diabolic is best considered 17+ for strong bloody violence and disturbing religious themes.
Q: Is Diabolic appropriate for teens?
A: It is not recommended for teens under 16. Older teens should watch only with parental guidance.
Q: How violent is Diabolic?
A: The film builds slowly but ends with graphic and brutal violence in the third act.
Q: Does Diabolic contain strong language?
A: Some strong language is likely present, though not constant throughout the film.
Q: Where can you watch Diabolic (2025)?
A: Diabolic is available to stream on Prime Video.