The Last Exorcism

There’s been plenty of hype about The Last Exorcism already in respect of its hefty box office compared to its (fairly) minimal production costs and an ending that has had people pretty miffed. The film has also drawn comparisons with The Blair Witch Project, in terms of profit ratio, the found footage premise and a viral marketing campaign. However, I wouldn’t bracket this film anywhere near Blair Witch in terms of effectiveness, but it does have a modicum of originality that pushes its head above water level. The film follows the Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian), who after agreeing to take part in a documentary designed to show exorcism as fake, travels to a remote farmhouse with two members of the documentary crew in order to “cure” a teenage girl called Nell (Ashley Bell) who’s father claims is possessed by the devil. To say more would be to spoil the few twists that follow. Though the film is unlikely to raise the hairs on your arms too much it is aptly marshaled by director Daniel Stamm who also coaxes a decent performance from Fabian who is believable as the Reverend trying to get the bottom of what is going on as the mayhem erupts around him, as opposed to running a mile as most mere mortals would do. Speaking of twists this is worth watching for Bell’s contortion alone, as her hyper mobility meant no body churning special effects were necessary in post production. And that ending? Well, it goes for shock value rather than cold chills (and yes, it is stolen from another film) but it doesn’t detract from the film at all and actually makes sense in the fact that, in movie folk-law anyhow, as soon as you take the man out of the city and put him in the woods, bad things are always bound to happen.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Despite a poster and title that feels like you’ve seen it all before this is a smart little film. Rating: 6/10.