Film Review - The Last Exorcism
Starring - Ashley Bell, Patrick Fabian, Louis Herthum, Iris Bahr | Directed by Daniel Stamm | Lionsgate DVD WS PG-13 87min 2010
Review By Xmortis
This is a "documentary" about Cotton Marcus, a man of the church and family man who is one part showman and one part egomaniac. Cotton also has made his name for performing exorcisms but reveals that he in fact doesn't believe in demons or even in God himself! The crew follows Cotton as he goes to New Orleans to a farmhouse that has a possessed girl living inside named Nell who is normal by day but a cattle killer at night. Cotton performs the exorcism on Nell and shows that he is in fact a fraud and a true showman. That night at the motel Nell shows up in a daze. Cotton and crew take her to the hospital where she shows no signs of being cured, and Cotton uncovers that she just very well might have a real demon living inside her! In the end is she really possessed or was this all one big hoax? Watch the film and find out!
This is another mockumentary that joins other shaky camera films like The Blair Witch Project, Diary of the Dead and even The Last Broadcast. The film is shot really well for being the shaky camera style, and it works in almost every scene. The horror is more atmospheric than blood, guts and gore. While I love a good splatter film, this style of film is also very chilling and even made me jump in certain spots. The film is basically bloodless, and when blood is shown, it's in quick cuts and splashes. Patrick Fabian plays Cotton Marcus and does one hell of a job playing a sleazy man of god who must really face himself in order to save a young girl's life. Ashley Bell plays Nell and is amazing in the role. She plays both the sweet girl and the crazy possessed girl so well that she's really scary in certain scenes and could be right up there with Linda Blair in the possessed teen department. While I won't spoil the ending, I know that some fans had a problem with it. I for one walk the line and think that while it has a neat twist, it does make the film seem a little cheap and in a weird way like Children of The Corn. The film does a nice job of making you guess whether it's real or a hoax over all. The lighting and score also really help make this film a great eerie watch. While this film is nothing ground breaking, it is a fun original in the age of remakes that can put goosebumps on your arms and deliver a fun scary ride.
The DVD extras include two commentaries, making of look at, trailers, a look at real exorcisms and a protection prayer. All the extras are fun to view, and the cover is very solid and is eye catching. The widescreen print is very solid and crisp showing that DVD is still just as good as Blu-Ray in today's market.
If the idea of demonic possession creeps you out, then this is a perfect film for you and should be on you must see list. I really like the film and am happy to have reviewed it for the site. Scary moments and a likable sleazy hero make this film a must see in my book.
I would also like to say that I would like to see a part two of this film that could maybe connect some loose ends and put a few more chills on the screen.