Nefarious

Nefarious is a 2023 American independent horror film written and directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon, based on Steve Deace's 2016 novel A Nefarious Plot. It stars Jordan Belfi as a psychiatrist who must determine if a convicted death row inmate (Sean Patrick Flanery) is faking his alleged demonic possession. The film was released on April 14, 2023. Plot At a state penitentiary, psychiatrist Dr. James Martin arrives to evaluate a notorious serial killer and death-row inmate named Edward Wayne Brady, believed to have murdered at least eleven people. Martin has just replaced Dr. Alan Fischer, who committed suicide after interviewing Edward. Warden Tom Moss warns Martin that Edward is an expert manipulator who can "get inside your head." Edward is scheduled to die by electrocution unless Martin finds him mentally ill and incompetent to be executed. If Martin finds Edward sane, however, he will be executed. Moss is hopeful that Martin will not agree with Fischer who was ready to declare Edward insane. Edward insists that he is really a demon inhabiting Edward's body, and his true name is "Nefariamus", though he answers to Nefarious. He further defies Martin's assumption that he is trying to escape punishment. He wants Edward to be executed. Nefarious also knows many details about Martin's professional and personal life, and says that before the day is over, Martin will have committed three murders. Nefarious accuses Martin of euthanizing his terminally-ill mother to acquire her money. Martin becomes angry and threatens to leave, but changes his mind. Suspecting that Edward suffers from dissociative identity disorder, Martin tries to reach Edward, but Nefarious allows only limited access to the timid, beaten-down man. Martin then draws out Nefarious' explanation of the role of demons in the world.