The Last Exorcism is the Horror Film We’ve Been Waiting For
The Last Exorcism is a breakthrough horror film that uses the faux-documentary style of filming exceptionally well in revealing what begins as a snapshot into the superficial life of a hoodwinking preacher/exorcist, and progresses into a dark, sinister realm of religion and the occult, an endeavor that could not have been pulled off so perfectly without first-rate direction and an extremely talented cast. Entertaining, intense and downright terrifying, The Last Exorcism is the horror film we’ve been waiting for.
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Up!
Written by BHM Editor Horror Queen
August 27, 2010
Release: August 27, 2010
Directed by: Daniel Stamm
Written by: Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland
Starring:
Patrick Fabian as Cotton Marcus
Ashley Bell as Nell Sweetzer
Iris Bahr as Iris Reisen
Loius Herthum as Louis Sweetzer
Caleb Landry Jones as Caleb Sweetzer
Tony Bently as Pastor Manley
Director Daniel Stamm’s risk in using the faux-documentary style paid off in that The Last Exorcism is far superior to the films of his predecessors (The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield). When Baton Rouge Preacher Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) and his team set off to film what will be his ‘last exorcism’ (he’s a career evangelist and admitted ‘non-believing’ exorcist suddenly overwrought with guilt over duping people), we’re aware the film is being shot from the first person POV, yet we’re not distracted by jerky camera motion, limited views or 90 minutes of dizziness.
Almost immediately we’re drawn in by Cotton’s stage presence and zeal as a forth generation Southern minister, tempered by an amusing self-deprecation. Yes, he’s deceiving people into thinking he’s ridding people of their demons, but after 25 years his conscience has finally caught up with him and he’s leaving the church behind to start a new life. Cotton’s wife and son are supportive as he heads out with a film crew to perform what will be his last exorcism, a seemingly typical one where a family – in this case the Sweetzers - writes to him of bad crops and mysteriously slain livestock. Mr. Sweetzer’s convinced the most logical answer for this is that the Devil has taken up residence in his teenage daughter, Nell.
What Cotton didn’t bargain for (but of course, we did) was the possibility that after all these years, this could be the exorcism that will require more than his typical props - hidden scary voice recordings, a ‘smoking’ cross, etc. Sure enough, soon after traveling up the dirt road leading to the Sweetzer farm in rural Louisiana, the film crew starts noticing peculiar things, not the least of which is the Sweetzer family itself.
Aside from famine and possible demonic possession, the Sweetzers have certainly had their fair share of challenges. The wounds of losing Mrs. Sweetzer are still fresh and Louis, the father has turned to religious fundamentalism as a comfort. Oh and alcohol. Not a great combination. He’s pulled his daughter Nell out of school because the music being taught is ‘not religious enough’. Son Caleb is completely out in left field and…well let’s just leave it at that. Realizing the challenges ahead, Cotton assures his reluctant team they should proceed.
The first and second acts of The Last Exorcism are unparalleled as far as character development and tension build-up. We literally can’t wait for the third act to really pull everything together and scare the bejesus out of us. Does it do this? Frankly, when I first saw the film I was a bit perturbed as the credits rolled after what seemed to be a confusing and hurried ending. But after thinking about it I felt differently. And according to Producer Eli Roth (Hostel, Grindhouse) that was exactly the intention – to make the viewer think versus having immediate gratification. Audiences may not clap at the end of The Last Exorcism, but you can bet there will be discussion and theorizing afterward. How many horror films can you say that about?
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Up!
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