"The Last Exorcism" is a 2010 American faux documentary horror film directed and edited by Daniel Stamm, and produced by Eli Roth (director of "Hostel"). It stars Patrick Fabian, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, and introduces actress Ashley Bell. The film is told from the perspective of a disillusioned evangelical minister named Cotton Marcus (Fabian), who after years of performing exorcisms, decides to participate in a documentary chronicling his last exorcism while exposing the fraud of his ministry. After receiving a letter from a farmer (Herthum) asking for help in driving out the devil, he meets the farmer's afflicted daughter (Bell). What follows is a horrific and frightening experience the likes of which he has never seen before.
Shot with the "shaky camera" style and using the "found footage" genre of horror movies that has made films like "The Blair Witch Project", "Quarantine" and "Paranormal Activity" famous, "The Last Exorcism" takes the well-known plot devices of a demon possessed/exorcism film, such as "The Exorcist" and "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", and twists it into a crazy ride full of surprises and thrills like never seen before. The storyline itself is interestingly different for this kind of genre, moving the plot along by misdirecting the audience's thoughts and attentions and then twisting them when least expected.
What is most amazing, and shocking about this film is the chilling performance by newcomer Ashley Bell. Her portrayal of a tormented teenager surrounded by terrifying and unnatural happenings is very disturbing. She shows her range as an actress by going from a lovely, kind and innocent young girl to a frightening and violent individual that would make any person afraid. The film's most memorable shot is during the exorcism in the tool shed when Bell's character, Nell, is subjected to an incredible "back bend", an excruciating vision of the "possessing demon's" power and cruelty. What makes this sight powerful is that it was not created by CGI or enhancing the footage in any way, but was actually done by Bell herself. Now, that is a clear example of an actor/actress's dedication to his/her part.
Overall, the film was not the normal kind of exorcism horror movie, but the storyline was solid and interesting, and the characters were believable and well-acted by the cast. With the Halloween season coming up, this film makes an excellent addition to that genre. It will be interesting to see if other films, such as "Saw 3D" and "Paranormal Activity 2", will live up to the expectations of everyone as well.
Rating: 4 Stars
Shot with the "shaky camera" style and using the "found footage" genre of horror movies that has made films like "The Blair Witch Project", "Quarantine" and "Paranormal Activity" famous, "The Last Exorcism" takes the well-known plot devices of a demon possessed/exorcism film, such as "The Exorcist" and "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", and twists it into a crazy ride full of surprises and thrills like never seen before. The storyline itself is interestingly different for this kind of genre, moving the plot along by misdirecting the audience's thoughts and attentions and then twisting them when least expected.
What is most amazing, and shocking about this film is the chilling performance by newcomer Ashley Bell. Her portrayal of a tormented teenager surrounded by terrifying and unnatural happenings is very disturbing. She shows her range as an actress by going from a lovely, kind and innocent young girl to a frightening and violent individual that would make any person afraid. The film's most memorable shot is during the exorcism in the tool shed when Bell's character, Nell, is subjected to an incredible "back bend", an excruciating vision of the "possessing demon's" power and cruelty. What makes this sight powerful is that it was not created by CGI or enhancing the footage in any way, but was actually done by Bell herself. Now, that is a clear example of an actor/actress's dedication to his/her part.
Overall, the film was not the normal kind of exorcism horror movie, but the storyline was solid and interesting, and the characters were believable and well-acted by the cast. With the Halloween season coming up, this film makes an excellent addition to that genre. It will be interesting to see if other films, such as "Saw 3D" and "Paranormal Activity 2", will live up to the expectations of everyone as well.
Rating: 4 Stars
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