Demons represent an internal conflict which, if not solved, results in possession. Being possessed by an idea creates a radical ideologue with poor mental health, and being possessed by a substance creates an ill state of physical health. This should give us some understanding of why we ‘exorcise’ demons in the same way we ‘exercise’ to stay healthy. Demons are, in essence, distortion, pollution, and disease of body and mind. With this understanding it is then possible to view the seemingly endless depictions of demons in movies and television. Hereditary features the demon Paimon; in the Conjuring series it is Volac; the movie It Lives Inside focuses on Piśāca, a flesh eating demon from Hindu mythology. But the movie’s theme, however, is actually about love, friendship, family, sacrifice, faith, and offerings - how this demon can consume you entirely when such things are abandoned. The similarities between Piśāca and Beelzebub are obvious, with flies and decay, but even more so with the Wendigo flesh eater of First Nations people, the Djinn of Arabia, or even the Sandman. The movie Spirited Away explores Kamikakushi, and the character Kaonashi (no face) is something of one of the previous demons. He offers gold and in exchange eats the takers, along with consuming every bit of food put in front of his giant mouth. Kaonashi is also obsessed with Chihiro, the little girl, because she is uncorrupted and doesn’t desire his gold.

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