TV REVIEWS : Demons on the Loose in Catholic Household

The Catholic church has come under some criticism in the wake of the recent ratings-topping “20/20” exorcism for allegedly dredging up the Dark Ages to drum up business. Just the opposite accusation is found in Fox’s fact-based TV movie “The Haunted” (tonight at 8 on Channels 11 and 6): Demons run loose for years on end in the household of a faithful Catholic family in suburban Pennsylvania, but the church, mindful of how bad spook-busting looks in the modern age, exercises its option not to exorcise.

Based on a 1988 nonfiction bestseller, “The Haunted” details the demonization of real-life couple Jack and Janet Smurl, who with their parents and children move into a duplex already occupied by unseen squatters. Disembodied voices, exploding appliances and hovering black shapes give way to more serious disturbances, down to the “Amityville”-meets-”The Accused” rape of Jack by a powerful succubus. (Needless to say, this isn’t for kids.)

The Smurls are turned down in their quest for help from their local diocese, and resort to psychic researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren, who seem to use an odd mixture of Christianity and parapsychology in their research.

Robert Mandel (“F/X”) directs the suspense with surprising matter-of-factness and lack of sensationalism, avoiding obvious scares more often than not. The point seems to be that the evil forces want not so much to terrify their hosts--the Smurls seem quite implacable in their attachment to their house--as to demoralize, embitter and drive wedges between family members. As the beleaguered couple, Sally Kirkland and Jeffrey DeMunn are suitably dowdy, clueless and resilient.

“The Haunting” is possessed of its hokey moments. (The major shocker, the rape, is undercut by silly makeup and fright wig on the purported demon.) It is also short on dramatic structure. But between the picture’s documented origins, its naturalistic storytelling and its mostly impressive visual effects, it unfolds with enough creepy credibility that any post-movie noises in the night may send you packing to the nearest Motel 6.