The newspaper was full of praise for this film by no-name director Daniel Stamm, and actor-turned-producer Eli Roth ("Inglorious Basterds" & "Piranha"). As usual, the movie DID NOT live up to the hype. "The scariest movie of the summer" turned out to be the biggest let down of the summer. I should have realized that something was amiss when I read that the film was rated PG-13. Very few excellent horror films can achieve success without an R rating. But, being the sucker for suspense that I am, I handed over the cash, and sat down with popcorn in hand, pregnant sis by my side.
For the next 87 minutes I followed a documentary crew as they followed Reverend Cotton Marcus. (Patrick Fabian, you may remember him from the HBO series "Big Love" on which he played the role of Ted Price) The good reverend is burned out. Preaching has become a farce, a weekly theatre of "hallelujahs". At one point he makes a bet with the crew that his audience was so distracted that he could insert a recipe for banana bread and no one would notice. No one did. Though he has sworn off of exorcisms all together, he is determined to prove that they are all for show.
Packing up his van, he and the crew journey to the Sweetzer farm, wered he meets Nell, a 16 year old girl who's father is convinced she's possessed. Though the Reverend puts on a great show of it, all the smoke and sound effects can't put the girl at ease. Before you know it, it's obvious that the family's need is genuine. The film reminded me of a lower caliber "Emily Rose" meets "Blair Witch Project". There were one or two spots that will make any viewer jump, and the plot keeps you interested until the end. I was so disappointed. Yes, "The Last Exorcism" has a "That's it?!" ending. I freaking hate that. I paid $12.00 to see a movie that left me sitting for an extra few seconds my overpriced seat wondering what the f#*@ I paid for. If you really have a yearning to see this film, download it, watch it online or wait until it comes out for rental. Don't buy it, and for God's sake, don't pay $12.00 to see it.
