The Last Exorcism, a fake-documentary horror movie, builds tension until all hell breaks loose. It is full of waiting in suspense. We know something is going to happen. The only question is when. It slowly gains momentum and once it is on the rise, this movie never comes down.
Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) has performed “exorcisms” in the past. His preaching and the “exorcisms” are all a show and he is the star. But once we meet his wife and child, we realize he is not a bad guy. He is just trying to help and whatever he has to do to get it done, then so be it. And he makes good money doing it. However, once his son was born and after reading a disturbing article about exorcisms, he wants to do one more. He wants to show how these “exorcisms” are a scam and brings a crew along with him to capture all of his preparation and reveal his secrets.
The family he chooses are the Sweetzers who live in rural Louisiana. The father, Louis Sweetzer (Louis Herthum), believes his daughter Nell (Ashley Bell) is possessed by a demon and needs Rev. Cotton’s help before it is too late and worse things happen. Rev. Cotton is their last hope. He may be Nell’s last hope.
Rev. Cotton is a charismatic guy whose beliefs are not as strong as those he helps. He is called a fraud in the movie and he does not like that word. But he feels guilty for misleading people and that is why this “documentary” is being made in the first place. This is his retribution. And Nell seems so innocent and sweet, especially the first time we see her. But when something else takes over, she is terrifying and unpredictable which makes her dangerous and exciting to watch.
Director Daniel Stamm uses the same approach as movies such as Paranormal Activity, Quarantine, and the movie that made it famous, The Blair Witch Project. And for the most part, this technique works. You can only see what the camera can see. It is all about the suspense of each second that you can not see what is exactly going on. And Stamm gets in close on Nell’s face a few times and it is chilling every time.
The Last Exorcism is a good movie with scary moments. It is tense and creepy for the most part. The movie is produced by Eli Roth, a man who loves blood and gore, but this movie doesn’t have it. It is PG-13 and uses other ways to scare you instead of disgusting you. Everyone in the movie is an unknown, but they form the perfect cast.
This movie tackles the Christian faith and beliefs. The extreme versions of it. It is used as a setup for the horror that happens. Rev. Cotton’s beliefs are tested and awaken through his experience with Nell. But Stamm does a nice job playing with the fact that perhaps none of it is true and there are other theories to what is happening with Nell. Either way, in the end, it gets a little crazy and some have been disappointed with it.
Personally, I was not displeased with it because you’re left with the feeling of not knowing exactly what is going on or why. And not knowing can be pretty scary.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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