Many people are probably familiar with the Satanic Panic of the 80s and 90s where at least dozens of people across the country were accused and convicted of committing fantastical crimes – child sacrifices, weird sexual abuse – then shown to be innocent. It’s a fascinating instance of mob mentality gone bad (I guess it never really goes good) and worth learning about.

I lived in Olympia Washington for a year in the early 90s and became familiar with the details of the Paul Ingram case that had occurred there. Ingram, a cop, was accused by his daughters of sexual abuse and participating in satanic rituals, including baby killings. And the weird twist was that Ingram pled guilty. He couldn’t recall committing the crimes, he said, but he felt certain Satan had taken over his psyche.

2016’s “Regression” is clearly based on this case. In the film, a father (a mechanic, not a cop) is accused by his daughter of various Ingram-like crimes. And, like Ingram, he admits to guilt, though he can’t recall the act.

The case is investigated by a hard-nosed cop played by Ethan Hawke and a psychologist played by David Thewlis. Thewlis character believes that, under hypnosis, offenders can recall horrific things they did but then repressed from memory. (We often hear this phenomenon discussed under the term “recovered memories.”)

So, as I was watching this, a question tickled my brain. Was this going to be a faithful recreation of the Ingram case in which the offender was eventually shown to have been railroaded by the cops and family members? Or would it take that case and use it as a launching pad for a more standard Exorcist style scare movie?

In a way, which would be worse? A low rent demonic possession story, or a presentation of a real miscarriage of justice that happened to multiple people?

I won’t tell you, but I’ll say it’s a damn good film worth watching. The acting is superb (Thewlis was the best thing about the recent “Sandman” Netflix show.) The mood is eerie, the wintry midwestern landscape (it’s moved from Washington) a delight, and the soundtrack well done. 

There are a few missteps towards the end, but all in all, I enjoyed it.