“The Last Exorcism” is a horror film about a charismatic preacher named Cotton who performs fake exorcisms. He is hired to perform one last exorcism on a farm in Louisiana, where he discovers that the teenage girl he is supposed to be exorcising may actually be possessed. As he investigates, he uncovers dark family secrets and must confront evil forces. The movie builds tension and paranoia as the truth of the situation unfolds.
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Review
As a lover of horror movies, I was very excited to watch “The Last Exorcism.” This film was directed by Daniel Stamm and released in 2010. It is a supernatural thriller movie that tells the story of a reverend named Cotton Marcus who specializes in performing fake exorcisms. Cotton Marcus and his two filmmakers visit a rural Louisiana farmstead to perform what will be his final exorcism.
The storyline of this movie is very intriguing, and it raises many questions throughout the production. From the beginning, we see that Cotton knows he is a fraud. He has been performing fake exorcisms for years, and he does not believe in demons or possession anymore. However, he still continues to do it because it pays him well, and he feels like he is helping people who believe they are possessed.
When Cotton arrives at the farmstead, he meets a young girl named Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell). Nell’s family believes she is possessed by a demon and insists that Cotton perform an exorcism on her. During the exorcism ritual, strange things happen that make Cotton question whether Nell’s possession is real or if someone else is behind it all.
One of the most interesting aspects of this movie is its documentary-style filming. It makes you feel like you are watching real-life events unfold before your eyes. The plot intertwines between being a movie and feeling like you’re watching something privately filmed with hidden cameras.
The acting in “The Last Exorcism” was fantastic as well. Patrick Fabian did an excellent job playing Cotton Marcus; his character development throughout the film was phenomenal. Ashley Bell’s performance as Nell Sweetzer was also remarkable, especially regarding her demonic-like behavior.
Many people were delighted when they learned that Eli Roth produced this film. Eli Roth’s previous works include highly regarded horror movies such as Hostel (2005) and Cabin Fever (2002). This movie lived up to the expectations and was included in the list of the best horror films of 2010.
The soundtrack of this movie is another aspect that deserves recognition with its chilling chords and eerie melodies. The score was created by Nathan Barr, who has also worked on major works such as True Blood (2008-2014), The Americans (2013-2021), and more.
After its release in 2010, “The Last Exorcism” gained a massive amount of popularity. It earned $20,366,613 domestically and a total global gross of $67,739,645. It became a top-ranking film when it opened in theaters.
Despite its commercial success, “The Last Exorcism” has received mixed reviews from critics as well as audiences. Some people criticised it for being too predictable and not having enough scares. Others praised the movie for its originality and thought-provoking storytelling.
One of the good things about this movie is that it doesn’t rely on jump scares to create tension; instead, they use imagery and subtle shifts to keep the audience on edge throughout the film. The ending itself had a surprise twist that many people didn’t see coming, which helped wrap up the narrative nicely.
Some people believe that this is one of the most underrated horror movies ever made. It is often overshadowed by other major films such as Paranormal Activity (2007) or The Conjuring (2013). With superb cinematography work from Zoltán Honti and Daniel Stamm’s direction, this film deserves more recognition.
If you’re into supernatural horror movies with an exciting storyline, then “The Last Exorcism” should be on your watchlist. It’s an engaging flick that will have you thinking about it long after it ends. As Cotton Marcus says in his scientific explanation during one of his interviews: “Demons didn’t exist in the first century, but they do exist now because we believe in them. And what we believe has the power to change us.”
Technical Data
- Runtime : 87
- Release : 2010-08-27
- Genre : Horror, Thriller, Mystery
- Cast : Ashley Bell as Nell Sweetzer, Patrick Fabian as Cotton Marcus, Iris Bahr as Iris, Louis Herthum as Louis Sweetzer, Caleb Landry Jones as Caleb Sweetzer
- Crew : Marc Abraham as Producer, Eli Roth as Producer, Nathan Barr as Music, Thomas A. Bliss as Producer, Daniel Stamm as Director
- Popularity 18.459
- Budget : $1,800,000
- Revenue : $69,432,527
- Company : Strike Entertainment, StudioCanal, Arcade Pictures
- Summary : After years of performing “exorcisms” and taking believers’ money, Reverend Marcus travels to rural Louisiana with a film crew so he can dispel what he believes is the myth of demonic possession. The dynamic reverend is certain that this will be another routine “exorcism” on a disturbed religious fanatic but instead comes upon the blood-soaked farm of the Sweetzer family and a true evil he would have never thought imaginable.
- Tagline : Believe In Him.
