Seeing Apparitions
01/11/2008 . Source: Jessica Martin 
Apparitions is a new BBC fantasy horror drama that looks at priests fighting possession and satanic conspiracy. All out war between good and evil is imminent and it's time to choose sides. British actor Martin Shaw stars as Father Jacob, a Roman Catholic priest who is working to promote candidates for sainthood but is drawn against his will into the world of exorcism. The idea for the series came from Martin as he had long wanted to play an exorcist and it was subsequently picked up by ace SFF writer Joe Ahearne - Ultraviolet, Doctor Who etc. SFcrowsnest looks behind the scenes at Apparitions and interviews Martin Shaw, who is always very Professional(s), as well as others from the cast. Buy Apparitions in the USA - or Buy Apparitions in the UK  Speaking about Apparitions Tony Wood, creative director of Lime Pictures, told SFcrowsnest.com, "Joe Ahearne has created a gripping story of intrigue and mystery which raises as many questions as it answers. Martin Shaw is the perfect choice to play the lead role in this bold series, a very different and darker acting challenge to that which the audience will have seen him in before."
The cast for Apparitions features John Shrapnel (The Duchess, Elizabeth, Gladiator) as Cardinal Bukovak, Jacob's boss who keeps a close watch on his every move; Luigi Diberti (Immortal Beloved) plays Monsignor Vincenzo, Rome's chief exorcist who is soon to retire and wants Jacob to take over from him; Elyes Gabel (Casualty) is pre-ordained priest Vimal who suffers torment at the hands of Michael, a possessed homeless man, played by Rick Warden (Band Of Brothers, Trial And Retribution, Rome).
Michelle Joseph (A Touch Of Frost, In Deep) is Jacob's aide, Sister Anne, who chooses to look for good rather than evil but remains resolutely loyal to Jacob. Siobhan Finneran (Benidorm, Boy A) is Sister Ruth who joins the series from episode two when she's sent from Rome to monitor Jacob's activities. Guest stars also include Shaun Dooley (Mark Of Cain, The Street) as single dad Liam, accused by his daughter of possession in episodes one and two.
Guest starring in episode three is Neil Pearson (The Booze Cruise, Drop The Dead Donkey, Bridget Jones' Diary) and Elizabeth Berrington (In Bruges, Moving Wallpaper). Neil plays the role of Lassiter, a prison governor who calls for Jacob's help when Cory, one of the inmates, shows signs of possession, while Elizabeth plays Kim, the mother of one of Cory's victims.
Episode four features Claudia Harrison (Murphy's Law, Attachments) as Janice, who runs a women's health clinic and comes to Jacob in desperation when there appear to be demonic forces attacking her patients. Adrian Bower (Teachers, Talk To Me) also guest stars as Simon, a possessed man who is trying to orchestrate a series of satanic births.
And in episode six there's a surprise appearance from Cherie Lunghi (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, Cutting It) who plays a woman who encounters Jacob at his lowest ebb.
Apparitions is a six-part 60-minute drama written by Joe Ahearne (This Life, Ultraviolet, Doctor Who). Joe also directed four episodes with John Strickland (Bodies, Clocking Off) directing episodes three and four.
Martin Shaw Interviewed
What kind of character is Father Jacob?
Jacob is a priest who is just trying to do his job, which is to promote people for sainthood. He is undeniably a good man. His bosses feel that he embraces exorcism but he is actually quite wary of it. He feels so strongly that we are all susceptible to the forces of Satan, that there are times when it is the only option.
What attracted you to the role?
Well I had the original idea to play an exorcist and I've felt for a long time that we need something very different on television. Nowadays it's very difficult to find producers who are willing to take a chance on something that challenges the norm but Tony Wood at Lime Pictures was prepared to take that chance and we've managed to create something that I think viewers will like, but will also force them to think and engage in the programme rather than view it passively.
This is quite a different role to what viewers will know you for, do you enjoy challenging yourself with different characters?
I not only enjoy it but I think it's absolutely vital. It's very easy to forget that acting is actually an art form and you have to train for it. You do need to explore, it's all too easy just to stay in the same place and stay in the comfort zone
Who do you think is the most intriguing character in Apparitions?
I think all of the characters in Apparitions are very complex and multi-dimensional. Michael (Rick Warden) is particularly intriguing because when we first meet him he is so fully possessed that he doesn't actually know who he is any more. His actions, his words – none of it is really him and there are times when he actually wants to be saved from himself. Liam is also an interesting character as initially many people probably wouldn't consider him to be possessed. He represents the anti-religious views of many people and he is a good father, although he is possessed by demons I feel that the audience will empathise with him in a way that just isn't possible with Michael.
How have you found filming?
I've been working with a great cast, crew, producer and director so you can't really ask for better than that. We've all worked incredibly hard to ensure that we do justice to this fantastic script and create something that is believable.
Which scene did you find most difficult/interesting to film?
The exorcism scenes were possibly the most difficult, particularly as in one of them I was connected to a high wire! I had to be thrown across a room and hit a wall with quite a bit of force so we needed the special effects to make it look completely real. The second exorcism was also interesting as everyone involved in the scene was so submerged in the words and the actions that their reactions were almost instinctive – it almost felt like we were doing it for real!
Does religion and spirituality play a part in your personal life?
Religion doesn't play a part in my life but spirituality does. I follow a spiritual path which is right at the centre of my life. I believe in God and I have a huge respect and love for all religions so from that respect it plays a part in my life but not the man-made, ceremonial and controversial aspects of religion.
Writer Joe Ahearne interviewed
Where did the idea for Apparitions come from?
Martin Shaw approached the BBC with the idea of playing an exorcist. The BBC put him in touch with Lime Pictures who were developing an idea from Nick Collins about a priest who investigates miracles. I was approached later on to write a first script based on this central concept of a priest who is working to promote candidates for sainthood. I discovered in research that the issues in exorcism and possession were much more exciting than the usual horror approach. I loved the idea that extreme sanctity and extreme evil were interwoven.
What can we expect from Apparitions?
Thrills, scares and an engaging, powerful central performance from Martin Shaw – supported by a first-rate ensemble. It's a tense and sometimes shocking thriller with supernatural overtones, not unrelenting horror. It's properly researched with no projectile vomiting or heads spinning 360 degrees. This is a story where the exorcist is centre stage – not the possessed victim. Parts of it are terrifying but we don't lose sight of the human drama amid the battle. I hope the treatment of this subject is genuinely unexpected and will make people think, not just jump out of their seats.
How did you find being both the writer and director for Apparitions?
It's easier directing something you've written because you can change it more freely on set when the actors discover what works and what doesn't. And it's easier writing something you know is going to be in your own hands to realise and your own responsibility if you screw up.
How did you find working on Apparitions in comparison to some of your other projects such as This Life or Doctor Who?
It's not quite as technically complicated as Doctor Who - although we do have stunts and wire work and prosthetics and CGI they are used much more sparingly. The camera style is more complex than This Life. The subject matter is far darker than either This Life or Doctor Who. What they all have in common are a fantastic cast with total commitment who make you believe the most bizarre situations.
You tackle some difficult subjects in Apparitions – where does your inspiration come from?
Apparitions is first and foremost a drama series, but the inspiration comes from the Catholic Church itself, its theology and beliefs. Because many of those beliefs are out of place in a secular society like Britain and it creates great conflict which is the engine for drama. Where Apparitions becomes exciting is when those core beliefs are taken on board and interrogated. Not just the belief in hell and demons but here-and-now ethics and morality. The inspiration for the stories have largely come from Catholic history of the saints or recent situations like the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, Croatia.
The Catholic Church appears to have great influence in a lot of your work – why is this?
It's a fluke! I did vampires 10 years ago and you can't do vampires without the church. Then I did something about parents pretending to be Catholics last year and now this which was not my idea. So that's only three times in 10 years! It's not like an obsession or anything...
What research have you done for this programme?
I have a new shelf of literature at home relating to miracle investigation, histories of the saints, exorcism (two books written by the real Chief Exorcist of Rome) and the nature of evil as well as books from the current wave of atheist writers denouncing religion as poison. Many Catholic writers will share my view that holding contradictory opinions at the same time is part of the process. The argument is what matters not the conclusion.
Has researching subjects such as exorcism and possession forced you to challenge your belief system?
No I'm a devout atheist and endlessly fascinated with the issue of faith in the impossible. It's true I bought a cross when we were shooting in Rome and I'm still wearing it. And it's true some of the actors had unnerving stories to tell during the shoot. My unfaith remains unshaken however. I need big miracles to make me believe. So far I've just been teased by the paranormal.
Are you pleased with the finished product?
The actors and crew have transformed the script into something truly exciting and moving which surprised even me. So a big yes!
Interview with Siobhan Finneran - Sister Ruth
Can you describe your character?
Sister Ruth has been working to promote candidates for sainthood. She is a woman who is totally committed to her faith and her job. She comes from humble beginnings, is bright and intelligent and has worked hard to achieve her present status and therefore doesn't suffer fools at all! She is sent by Cardinal Bukovak (John Shrapnel), to find and collect as much information on Jacob (Martin Shaw) as possible, she's told to find out what he's doing and why he's behaving the way he is.
How does she feel when she starts the job?
When she arrives she is suspicious and wary. She's there to do her job and then she thinks she can go back to what she was doing before. She does worry about her life though and she is very mistrusting of the character of Michael (Rick Warden). He makes her feel uncomfortable because she doesn't know where he has come from and Jacob is very cagey about giving information about Michael.
How does her relationship with Jacob develop?
She doesn't think she's going to like or understand Jacob but she does. She sees that what he is fighting is real and therefore she is much more sympathetic and understanding. Jacob warns her that anyone who gets involved with him will end up embroiled in the problems that he's fighting against. But once she sees possession and once she has been subjected to everything, she knows that what he is doing is the right thing. So she changes from being on Bukovak's side to being on Jacob's side and they get on very well then.
What attracted you take the role?
The script is always what attracts me to a job. It made me interested and I had seen stuff that Joe had written and directed before and always thought that was fantastic. I thought Perfect Parents was one of the best things I had ever seen on television for a long time. And I have never played a nun before.
How do you feel in the costume?
I'm really comfortable in it now! The first couple of times I saw myself in the mirror it was a bit of a shock but it is very comfortable and I don't have any costume changes which is great! But I do get a bit of costume envy when I see other people wearing nice shoes! The last thing people will have seen me in on TV was Benidorm so I have gone from wearing a bikini to a habit!
What's been the most interesting scenes to film?
I love the fact that Ruth was very sniffy to begin with and has then softened and warmed to Jacob and I have enjoyed showing that. I also enjoy doing the scenes with Martin where there's a bit of banter between him and Ruth. I think this is so brilliantly written that most of the scenes have been an absolute treat to do. What I haven't enjoyed doing though is learning the prayers. The other day we were all struggling with the prayer of exorcism, I found it so hard to get it in my head!
Interview with Rick Warden - Michael
What kind of character is Michael?
Michael is a troubled young man in his thirties who has invited dark forces into him. There is one specific demon called Astaruth who possesses Michael and he is the other character that I play. When you first meet Michael he is fully possessed by Astaruth and doesn't even know his real name or anything about himself until much later in the series. Michael has ended up homeless, wandering the streets of different cities speaking languages he's never learned. Astaruth was a leper-healing demon cast out by Bartholomew, and he has returned for Father Jacob.
Which character did you prefer to play – Michael when he is possessed (aka Astaruth) or the troubled Michael?
I much preferred playing Michael when he's possessed than when he's troubled. There's nothing ambiguous about what Astaruth wants from things, he says what he feels and so he is fun to play. By episodes three and four, Michael is really thrown into chaos – amnesia, huge amounts of confusion, he's full of fear and is preyed on by all kinds of influences. I found that a lot less fun to play. I have to say that I would rather be the bad guy than the troubled one.
Did you have to do any research to get into character?
The main work was vocal, learning how to make various languages sound like my own, or the reverse dialogue.
How difficult is it to play this sort of character?
I made a very conscious decision at the start of filming not to over-involve myself with Astaruth/Michael. The material is too sensitive for that, and I'd end up not being able to sleep at night.
What attracted you to the role?
The script terrified me and that was the central attraction. I had never read a story where speaking in tongues was even braved, let alone be central to the drama. It made the character irresistible and the project a rare one in my estimation.
Does Michael know he is possessed?
In fleeting moments he knows some "thing" is controlling him to do horrific acts but he is utterly powerless over it. The demon is old, and strong, and could discard Michael as a "vessel" at any point so whether Michael knows or not won't help him.
Which scene did you find most difficult/interesting to film?
I have to say the exorcism scenes. They threw up emotions I hadn't anticipated, reversed all of the decisions I'd made and happened in a blur. I know I felt very, very tired, and put upon by the words. Essentially I felt a huge amount of self pity and that's not at all what I'd prepared for. I felt impending loss, bereavement somehow. It was one of the weirdest things I've ever shot.
Where did you get your inspiration for the character?
My inspiration mainly comes from Joe [Ahearne] who really fires my imagination. I've always been an Exorcist movie nut so didn't need to find inspiration. These dark stories of tested faith have always interested me and I thought the script was fantastic. In my opinion it's more frightening than any of the Exorcist films since the original, but viewers will have to concentrate and be open to it to fully experience that.
Interview with John Shrapnel – Cardinal Bukovak
How would you describe your character?
Cardinal Bukovak is a senior figure in his Clergy, a bit like a Head of Chambers in the legal world. He is ultimately responsible for representations for canonisation, and the examination of "miraculous" claims. He enjoys his power and the popularity it brings him. He feels Jacob is a challenge – a man with a mission which is clouding his judgement. He thinks that Jacob is obsessed by the idea of possession and the power of exorcism to counter it. Bukovak is suspicious of his motives.
Does he believe in exorcism?
As far as exorcism itself is concerned, Bukovak feels it is being too easily used as an exotic response to "conspiracies of Evil", maybe for reasons of self-advancement in Jacob's case. He wants to discredit the practice, which brings him into direct conflict with Jacob. He believes in Satan, and the possibility of possession, but thinks it is often an excuse for other motives and that claims for it are often exaggerated.
What attracted you to this role?
The story is a fascinating one and all the characters are very complex. So, the idea of playing a man of depth and power who will use all his skills to challenge Jacob was very attractive.
How did you find filming for Apparitions?
Filming has been hugely enjoyable. I came on the set when the production was already under way, so there was a great sense of excitement and anticipation. It was a very welcoming unit and I felt very much at home from the start.
Interview with Michelle Joseph - Sister Anne
Can you describe your character?
Sister Anne is basically there to help Jacob (Martin Shaw) in any way she can. She is a perfectionist and wants everything to run smoothly. There is a great deal of mutual respect between her and Jacob and she considers herself to be his equal – but she definitely rules the roost! It's her office and she runs it the way she likes it – she definitely knows what she wants.
What does Sister Anne think about Jacob's work?
She just thinks that it is their job to make people saints, not to get involved in exorcism and fighting off demons. She believes that Jacob should stay out of it as it's not what he is there to do. She tries to discourage him and questions his motivations, but she will stand by him whatever he chooses to do.
So, what attracted you to this role?
Well, I'm a Christian myself and I thought it would be a lovely part to play. Sister Anne always stays firm in her faith and she isn't scared to give her opinions. Everything she says and does stems from her religious beliefs.
Apparitions is a hard-hitting thriller – did you have any particularly difficult scenes to film?
Well I think I got off quite lightly! I did have to do a scene in which we were in a small room with hundreds of flies coming at us and that wasn't nice at all!
Have you enjoyed filming for Apparitions?
Yes it's been lovely. Everyone from the cast and crew has been so friendly and I've just loved every minute of it.
Interview with Shaun Dooley - Liam
Can you describe your character?
Liam is just a really normal bloke. He's a good dad and was a good husband to his wife Sarah (Sarah-Jayne Steed) before they split up. He is very anti-religion and has really strong atheist views. I think his views were strengthened when he went on holiday to India. He visited one of the missionaries there but all he could see were the poor people and the poverty they were living in. For him it just reinforced his beliefs about religious fundamentalism. He's also got definite anger management problems!
How difficult is it to play a character that has so many inner demons?
It's really difficult, I was effectively playing three different roles and each of Liam's "characters" has different traits and characteristics. When he is completely possessed he speaks in Albanian and so I had to learn a whole new language, which surprised me as when I was immersed in this character and speaking in a completely foreign language I felt able to do things that I wouldn't ordinarily have been able to do. But Liam is definitely one of the most difficult characters I have ever had to play and I often needed to be in quite a dark place – The Prodigy certainly helped!
Playing such a complex character, were you involved in any particularly difficult scenes?
Yes lots! But the one that really stands out for me is when Liam is exorcised by Father Jacob. It was such a frightening and unnerving experience. To have two priests standing either side of you and be playing a character who is in so much pain with every word they say is one of the most difficult things I have ever done.
Have you enjoyed playing such a difficult role?
I've loved it. You go home at night and every muscle and emotion has been exercised. It's been fantastic to work with such accomplished actors, Rick (Warden) who plays Michael has been great and Martin (Shaw) is a great actor who cares so much and wants it to be good and that just makes you up your game.
Interview with Elyes Gabel - Vimal
How would you describe your character?
He's a young man who has a very strong faith and is working towards his ordination. His life has taken quite a dramatic twist as when he was 14 he was cured of leprosy. There is great confusion around how he was cured; initially he believed he was cured by Mother Teresa but as he gets older things become more ambiguous and he starts to think it may have been demons who took away his leprosy. Vimal is also confused about his sexuality and he is unsure as to whether his feelings are a result of his cure. On the whole he is quite lost and looks to the Church for security.
What made Vimal want to become a priest?
The Church is all he has ever known. He has always been very religious and had strong faith. He also sees the Church as a secure environment which gives him stability and strength.
How would you describe Vimal's relationship with Jacob?
Jacob is a father and a friend to him. Vimal isn't socially inept but he struggles to cope with certain situations and it's then that he looks to Jacob for strength.
How did you find filming for Apparitions?
Interesting! No, really it was great. All of the cast are fantastic and everyone has really clicked. We've also been trying to spook each other with tales of extraordinary things that have been happening which has been fun!
Episode synopses
Episode 1
Father Jacob's (Martin Shaw) job is to promote candidates for sainthood. In his search for miracles he occasionally sees the hand of Satan and performs an exorcism. Although a reluctant exorcist he has an undeniable talent for it and his mentor Monsignor Vincenzo (Luigi Diberti) wants him to take over when he retires as Chief Exorcist of Rome.
Vincenzo reveals Jacob's name has come up in exorcisms – the demons fear him. Jacob refuses Vincenzo but when 10-year-old Donna turns up in his office begging for help he cannot abandon her.
Donna (Romy Irving) is convinced her dad Liam (Shaun Dooley) is possessed.
At first Jacob thinks Liam's hatred of religion is just popular atheism but as the evidence mounts, and he fears for Donna's safety, Jacob has to find a way to persuade this militant atheist to consent to an exorcism. While Donna takes up Jacob's attention, satanic forces are in play in Jacob's seminary. Trainee priest Vimal (Elyes Gabel) is taunted by a homeless man Michael (Rick Warden) who knows his secret thoughts.
Vimal was miraculously cured of leprosy after he prayed to Mother Teresa – it's how he met Jacob. But now Michael tells him his new skin was Satan's miracle, not God's. Unless Vimal agrees to use Satan's gift, it'll be taken back.
Michael warns Vimal if he tries to help Jacob in his exorcism of Donna's father, the demons will reveal Vimal's secret.
Episode 2
Jacob's (Martin Shaw) exorcism of Liam has been answered with the butchery of his friend Vimal (Elyes Gabel). Michael (Rick Warden) confesses to the crime but Jacob knows this homeless man was not responsible.
Jacob realises the police will never accept possession as a defence. An innocent man will be put away as a psychopathic murderer and the demon will be free to kill again. The race is on to find Michael before the police do. Even while Jacob tries to save Michael, the demon inside Michael taunts him. He wants to teach Jacob about the horrors of hell.
The demon is intent on exorcising Jacob and converting him to satanism. If Jacob refuses to listen his friends will suffer. Detective Rachel sees Jacob as an obstacle to her investigation – a priest who thinks psychopaths should be exorcised instead of locked up.
Jacob's boss Cardinal Bukovak (John Shrapnel) encourages her view of Jacob as a maverick.
Liam (Shaun Dooley) reluctantly agrees to help Jacob in his search for Michael – he knows that Jacob could have brought in the police when he himself was possessed and threatened Donna (Romy Irving).
Michael's demon responds by threatening to return to Liam and continuing to taunt Jacob, this time with a revelation about his best friend and mentor Monsignor Vincenzo (Luigi Diberti). But can Jacob's faith be broken?
Characters
Father Jacob – Martin Shaw
Father Jacob is a Roman Catholic priest whose job is to promote candidates for sainthood but is drawn against his will into the world of exorcism. In his work to canonise Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Jacob finds himself under attack from Satan. He's also in conflict with the Vatican as Cardinal Bukovak undermines him at every turn. Jacob's faith may be strong but can he survive this terrifying confrontation Satan has planned?
Vimal – Elyes Gabel
Vimal is a trainee priest who was cured of leprosy after praying to Mother Teresa – living proof of her Sainthood. But the Vatican has rejected his miracle and he is taunted by demons who claim it was Satan and not God who cured him. His only friend is Jacob but Vimal has a secret which prevents him from confiding in the one person who can help him.
Michael – Rick Warden
Michael is a homeless man who is controlled by a powerful demon. In his possessed state he carries out a series of terrible crimes but, once Jacob manages to exorcise him, Michael awakens as an innocent suffering from amnesia. Jacob takes him in, absolves him of his crimes and helps Michael work out who he is. But he is soon targeted by the demons who want to recruit him in their mission to open the gates of hell
Sister Ruth – Siobhan Finneran
Sister Ruth is sent by Bukovak to spy on Jacob. Initially her allegiance is to the cardinal and she is highly suspicious of Jacob. Even though she and Jacob don't see eye to eye, a mutual respect grows between them. She will put her faith and her life on the line as she supports Father Jacob in his quest to destroy evil.
Cardinal Bukovak – John Shrapnel
Cardinal Bukovak is Jacob's boss at the Congregation of the Causes for Saints. He worries that his best miracle investigator is being groomed for a career in demonology. For him demonic possession is an historical embarrassment like the Crusades or the Inquisition. Jacob's unofficial investigations are exactly the kind of thing that brings the Church into disrepute and Bukovak believes he must be stopped.
Sister Anne – Michelle Joseph
Sister Anne is Jacob's secretary and she considers exorcism to be an archaic practice. She joined the Church because she loves God, not because she hates Satan. She challenges Jacob as he gets drawn by Vincenzo deeper into the world of possession and satanic conspiracy. Her faith is threatened as she is confronted by the presence of evil.
Monsignor Vincenzo – Luigi Diberti
Monsignor Vincenzo is soon to retire as the Chief Exorcist of Rome and wants Jacob to be his successor. They've been friends for years and he trusts no-one else. Vincenzo is convinced that Satan is getting stronger and the war with him becoming more difficult to fight. But the Vatican doesn't like to talk about the devil anymore.
Liam – Shaun Dooley (Episodes 1 & 2)
Liam is an atheist so fervent in his hatred of God that he's begun to frighten his 10-year-old daughter, Donna. Donna seeks out Jacob to ask for help and, when Jacob confronts him about his behaviour, Liam's reactions shock even himself. He can't admit to his problem in this day and age. For him, possession is a ridiculous medieval concept. And yet as his anger grows he has to balance his entrenched scepticism with the safety of the daughter that he loves.
Governor Lassiter – Neil Pearson (Episode 3)
Lassiter is Governor of Sandfield Prison. He is keen for Jacob to perform an exorcism on inmate Cory Wardell. As far as Lassiter is concerned he's got a serious case of religious hysteria among some of the most violent prisoners in the UK and he wants Jacob to nip it in the bud. Once he experiences possession first-hand he then teams up with Father Jacob and helps him to try and track down the escaped convict.
Father Daniel – David Gyasi (Episodes 3 & 6)
Father Daniel is prison chaplain at Sandfield Prison. He calls upon Jacob for assistance when one of the inmates starts to show signs of possession. However, he is ill-prepared for the experience that lies ahead as the demons taunt him with their knowledge of his secret desires. The strain of this initial encounter means he has to leave his job at the prison but he is forced to face Satan once again when Sister Ruth seeks him out to help Jacob in his hour of need.
Kim Portman – Elizabeth Berrington (Episode 3)
Ever since Kim Portman's daughter, Mary, went missing eight years ago, she's been desperate to find out what happened to her. Correspondence with Cory Wardell has led her to believe that he is responsible for her murder, although he's never admitted where he buried Mary's body. When Cory escapes from prison, she will stop at nothing to discover the truth.
Cory Wardell – Stephen Wight (Episode 3)
At the age of 20 Cory has assaulted a number of women. When Jacob is called to Sandfield Prison, he wonders whether Cory is presenting signs of saintly possession as he recognises the parallels between his case and Maria Goretti, patron saint of rape victims. At first it's unclear whether Cory is possessed by demons or a saint and only Jacob realises the terrible truth; that they're fighting over him.
Simon – Adrian Bower (Episode 4)
Simon is a veteran who was blinded in the Bosnian war where he claims he served with Michael. Simon is a willing vessel for demonic possession and encourages Michael to join him and become a soldier again. Simon's mission is to orchestrate and protect a satanic pregnancy.
Janice – Claudia Harrison (Episode 4)
Janice Greely is a doctor at the Hallum Street Women's Clinic. As a trained surgeon she is deeply sceptical of Jacob's advice. She is forced to revise her attitudes and stand up to her colleagues in the face of what she experiences in order to save the lives of her patients. Having witnessed satanic forces at work at the clinic, Janice is fully aware of the danger they face.
Zaid – Jamie Blackley (Episode 5)
Zaid Kopavic is a 15-year-old Muslim boy who claims to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Jacob becomes suspicious when the apparition shows Zaid an image of his father burning in the flames of hell. Jacob discovers Zaid's father is, in fact, Michael. Desperate to release his father from his torment, Zaid takes his Imam hostage and forces Jacob to perform a satanic ritual. |
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