The marketing team behind The Last Exorcism seem to have put a lot of emphasis on three words, 'Eli Roth Presents'. The posters also bear a striking resemblance to those of the Saw franchise, so you would be forgiven for expecting a Hostel-style torture-porn-fest. The film is more accurately a thriller and, for the most part, an enjoyable one.
Reverand Cotton Marcus, a once great evangelical preacher, has lost his faith. The trials of modern day suburban life have lead him to take a more secular and cynical view of the world. In order for him to make some money he performs 'exorcisms'. Having decided the next performance will be his last, he agrees to allow a documentary crew to film the entire event. Debunking the myths, he feels, will alleviate some of the guilt he suffers from being a heretic. The next exorcism request he receives is from the Sweetzer family in Louisiana. After finding several of his farm animals slaughtered, Louis believes his daughter, Nell, is possessed. So Cotton and the camera crew travel south to document his last scam.
Cottons story will be familiar to anyone who has seen famous seventies documentary Marjoe, which focuses on the life of an evangelical con-man. Perhaps this is part of the reason The Last Exorcism is shot in a mockumentary style. The slow-paced first act devotes the majority of its time developing the character of Cotton. We are shown his over-the-top sermons in direct juxtaposition to his mundane home life. Basically him battling his own demon.
Patrick Fabian gives a strong performance as the Reverand and grounds the film in reality. However it is Ashley Bell as possessed teenager, Nell, who really impresses. Her understated portrayal of the young girl compliments the few scenes of her actually being 'possessed'. The combination of these performances and the nomadic camera, add some much needed realism to a film based on the supernatural.
The set-up is executed well and by the time we are shown any unworldly goings on, we are already emotionally involved. At this point things start to unravel, we are instantly taken out of the film by use of an ominous soundtrack. Up until this point everything is presented as 'found-footage' so it seems counter-productive to suddenly throw in a slow cello crescendo. The final act seems to be a cross between The Blair Witch Project and Rosemary's Baby. It turns a little farcical and familiar, so when the credits roll we are left unsatisfied.
We have seen many documentary style horror films in the past few years (Blair Witch, Cloverfield, REC) but The Last Exorcism put this style to great use. The non-CGI effects and the minimal amount of time spent focused on the supernatural, give the first two-thirds of this film a refreshing realism. However it seems as if all creative energy was drained by the time it came to wrapping it all up, and we are given a cliché ending. But then again, maybe thats what the posters were trying to tell us.
Reverand Cotton Marcus, a once great evangelical preacher, has lost his faith. The trials of modern day suburban life have lead him to take a more secular and cynical view of the world. In order for him to make some money he performs 'exorcisms'. Having decided the next performance will be his last, he agrees to allow a documentary crew to film the entire event. Debunking the myths, he feels, will alleviate some of the guilt he suffers from being a heretic. The next exorcism request he receives is from the Sweetzer family in Louisiana. After finding several of his farm animals slaughtered, Louis believes his daughter, Nell, is possessed. So Cotton and the camera crew travel south to document his last scam.
Cottons story will be familiar to anyone who has seen famous seventies documentary Marjoe, which focuses on the life of an evangelical con-man. Perhaps this is part of the reason The Last Exorcism is shot in a mockumentary style. The slow-paced first act devotes the majority of its time developing the character of Cotton. We are shown his over-the-top sermons in direct juxtaposition to his mundane home life. Basically him battling his own demon.
Patrick Fabian gives a strong performance as the Reverand and grounds the film in reality. However it is Ashley Bell as possessed teenager, Nell, who really impresses. Her understated portrayal of the young girl compliments the few scenes of her actually being 'possessed'. The combination of these performances and the nomadic camera, add some much needed realism to a film based on the supernatural.
The set-up is executed well and by the time we are shown any unworldly goings on, we are already emotionally involved. At this point things start to unravel, we are instantly taken out of the film by use of an ominous soundtrack. Up until this point everything is presented as 'found-footage' so it seems counter-productive to suddenly throw in a slow cello crescendo. The final act seems to be a cross between The Blair Witch Project and Rosemary's Baby. It turns a little farcical and familiar, so when the credits roll we are left unsatisfied.
We have seen many documentary style horror films in the past few years (Blair Witch, Cloverfield, REC) but The Last Exorcism put this style to great use. The non-CGI effects and the minimal amount of time spent focused on the supernatural, give the first two-thirds of this film a refreshing realism. However it seems as if all creative energy was drained by the time it came to wrapping it all up, and we are given a cliché ending. But then again, maybe thats what the posters were trying to tell us.