Till Death — or Possession — Do Us Part
Ah, weddings. The champagne, the vows, the strategically hidden flasks. For most couples, the worst-case scenario is a drunk uncle or a DJ who thinks “YMCA” counts as a slow dance. For Hank and Doreen, the lovebirds at the center of Devil in My Ride (2013), the wedding day goes off the rails in a way that makes even bridezillas look tame — because the bride gets possessed by the Devil.
That’s right. In this delightfully ridiculous horror-comedy road trip from writer-director Gary Michael Schultz, love meets Lucifer, and the result is 90 minutes of demonic chaos, burnt rubber, and surprising charm.
If Evil Dead 2, Superbad, and The Hangover had a weird, slightly intoxicated child, it would be Devil in My Ride.
The Plot: Hell Hath No Fury Like a Bride Possessed
Hank (Joey Bicicchi) is the kind of guy who probably thinks a “romantic gesture” is buying flowers from a gas station, but he’s deeply in love with Doreen (Erin Breen), who’s just as smitten — at least until her charmingly idiotic brother Travis (Frank Zieger) crashes the wedding with a “gift.”
Said gift? A mysterious locket that, as it turns out, comes with a special feature: instant demonic possession.
Within minutes, poor Doreen goes from glowing bride to snarling vessel of Satan. Her eyes turn red, her voice drops two octaves, and her new favorite word becomes “Damnation.” The wedding is ruined, guests flee, and Hank suddenly realizes his honeymoon plans now involve a cross-country exorcism instead of a hotel suite.
The only person who can save Doreen? A washed-up, booze-soaked exorcist named Johnny Priest (Llou Johnson), last seen somewhere in Las Vegas. The catch? They’ve got 72 hours before Doreen’s soul is permanently Hell’s property.
And so begins the strangest road trip since Dumb and Dumber.
Love on the Highway to Hell
What follows is a gloriously unhinged buddy adventure, equal parts horror, comedy, and heartfelt chaos. Hank and Travis — two men who can barely stand each other — are forced to team up and haul ass across state lines with a possessed woman in the back seat.
Their road trip feels like a B-movie pilgrimage: shady motels, desert dives, sleazy pawn shops, and a few encounters with people who might be demons, lunatics, or just regular Vegas locals (hard to tell the difference).
There’s a constant tension between absurdity and sincerity. One minute, you’re watching Doreen spew demonic filth in a church parking lot; the next, Hank is confessing his love to her unconscious body like he’s in a Nicholas Sparks novel directed by Sam Raimi.
And yet, somehow, it works.
Because beneath all the mayhem, Devil in My Ride has a surprisingly sweet core. It’s about love surviving the worst possible test — one that involves projectile vomiting and Beelzebub himself.
Joey Bicicchi: The Romantic Everyman from Hell
Joey Bicicchi’s performance as Hank is the glue (and occasionally, the duct tape) that holds the insanity together. He plays the role with a perfect mix of bewilderment, desperation, and devotion. He’s not a hero — he’s just a guy trying to do right by the woman he loves, even if she’s currently speaking in tongues and trying to eat the upholstery.
Bicicchi leans into the absurdity without ever winking at the camera. He sells it — every scream, every awkward pause, every ridiculous prayer yelled at the sky. His chemistry with Frank Zieger’s Travis gives the film its heart. They’re the ultimate odd couple: one straight-laced, one perpetually stoned, both hopelessly out of their depth.
Their arguments about directions, music, and the logistics of exorcism while driving a van full of cursed jewelry are pure gold.
Frank Zieger as Travis: The Brother from Another Nightmare
Frank Zieger’s Travis is the kind of guy you pray your sister never introduces you to. He’s all heart, zero brains, and 100% chaos. His idea of problem-solving is lighting something on fire and seeing what happens.
He’s also — somehow — the soul of the movie.
Zieger gives Travis a lovable, shaggy-dog quality. He’s the screw-up with good intentions, the kind of guy who means well even as he accidentally invites Satan into your wedding. There’s a weird nobility in his stupidity — he’s the human equivalent of a Labrador trying to drive a bus.
And when the movie lets him show genuine remorse and brotherly love, it’s surprisingly touching. In between fart jokes and fiery possession scenes, you actually care about this moron.
Erin Breen as Doreen: The Devil Wears Veil
Erin Breen deserves a special award for committing fully to demonic insanity while wearing a wedding dress.
She goes from sweet and romantic to absolutely feral in seconds — and it’s a blast to watch. Her possessed Doreen is both terrifying and hilarious, snarling obscenities and throwing tantrums that feel halfway between The Exorcist and a bridezilla meltdown.
It’s the perfect metaphor for marriage: beautiful on the outside, but occasionally possessed by dark forces.
Enter the Exorcist: Llou Johnson Steals the Show
Every good road movie needs a mysterious mentor figure, and Devil in My Ride delivers in the form of Johnny Priest (Llou Johnson), a homeless exorcist who looks like he’s seen God, the Devil, and several tax audits.
Johnson is phenomenal — part blues preacher, part burnout prophet. He delivers lines about faith, sin, and redemption with the gravitas of a man who’s probably performed an exorcism in a Taco Bell restroom.
When he finally teams up with Hank and Travis, the movie shifts gears from wacky to full-on spiritual showdown. His scenes bring the chaos together, grounding the absurdity in something that almost feels profound.
Almost.
Sid Haig: Because Every Good B-Movie Needs One
And then there’s Sid Haig — the late, great horror legend — popping in for a gloriously bizarre cameo as Iggy, a desert-dwelling oddball who looks like he bathes in motor oil and bad decisions.
Haig doesn’t just chew scenery — he devours it whole and asks for seconds. His presence is like a stamp of approval from the Grindhouse gods themselves.
It’s the cinematic equivalent of a parental blessing from Rob Zombie.
Road Rage, Holy Rage, and a Hell of a Good Time
What makes Devil in My Ride such a joy isn’t perfection — it’s passion. This movie knows exactly what it is: a B-movie road trip with blood, heart, and a devilish grin.
Gary Michael Schultz directs with a steady hand and a gleeful sense of mischief. The tone is tricky — balancing absurd humor with bursts of genuine emotion — but he nails it. The editing is tight, the pacing brisk, and the cinematography turns the Midwest and Vegas desert into an oddly poetic battleground for good and evil.
And the practical effects? Chef’s kiss. The possession makeup is gooey, grotesque, and gleefully over-the-top — like The Evil Dead’s less self-serious cousin.
Even the soundtrack rocks — a blend of gritty rock and gospel-tinged chaos that perfectly matches the film’s devil-may-care energy.
The Moral: Love Conquers All (Even Satan)
Beneath the blood and blasphemy, Devil in My Ride is, dare I say it, a romantic comedy. It’s about love surviving demonic interference, brotherly redemption, and the power of doing something incredibly stupid for the right reasons.
It’s sweet, it’s messy, and it’s possessed with the kind of enthusiasm that can’t be faked.
If you’re the kind of horror fan who misses the era when movies were made with sweat, heart, and maybe a few mild safety violations, this one’s for you.
Final Verdict: Drive Fast, Pray Hard
Devil in My Ride is everything you want from a low-budget horror-comedy — scrappy, irreverent, and filled with enough demonic charm to make even the Prince of Darkness crack a smile.
It’s a hell of a debut for Gary Michael Schultz, and a reminder that sometimes, the road to redemption comes with potholes, fireballs, and a possessed bride in the backseat.
Rating: 9 out of 10 cursed lockets.
Because love may be blind — but it sure as hell isn’t demon-proof.
