Movie 23: The Last Exorcism

Starring: Ashley Bell, Patrick Fabian, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, Caleb Landry Jones, Tony Bentley.

Director: Daniel Stamm.

The Last Exorcism taught me a very valuable lesson about life: always take my dramamine before going to see a found-footage film.  I literally vomited after watching this movie because I was so motion sick.  

Other than that?  I really liked it.  A big theme of this "Possession" sub-genre run is coming to the understanding that the best entries in the sub-genre are actually about far more than a demon in someones body.  They tackle elements of faith: not just in religion but also in the self.  They tell a story of humanity, and the purest concepts of good and evil possible.  The Last Exorcism does just that: tells a story about the evils of humanity, of sexual abuse (which is the easiest but most effective metaphor and concept that possession films utilize) and of personal conviction and faith.  It's a rather extraordinary film.

Every single one of these films basically wants to be The Exorcist and few of them are worthy of having anything but the most cursory comparisons made to that film.  The Last Exorcism may be a bit more lightweight than Friedkins film or Blattys novel, but it has a spiritual kinship in that it a)actually discusses some real issues of body, soul and mind and b)manages some actually interesting sequences.  Reverend Marcus is much for charismatic and flamboyant than Father Karras, but both characters definitely are strong heroes who undergo similar journeys, but have enough differences to be their own people.

Patrick Fabian gives a truly exceptional performance as Reverend Cotton Marcus.  His charisma is out of this world.  He presents a main character-a man of god (sort of)-with a sense of humor but also a deep sense of responsibility.  The presentation of an exorcist who doesn't have any belief in what he's doing but feels like it's still the right thing to do for people and their peace of mind.  It's very human.  He really does present a sense of depth that most horror heroes don't have as well-that central conflict within him, the gravity of his feelings...it's a rarity and really refreshing.  

The central premise works, too.  I've spoken a little on found footage and their various ups and downs, but I feel The Last Exorcism uses the device wonderfully.  First of all, the reason for the camera to be rolling is sound: Marcus, wanting to help people, has decided to go perform one last exorcism in order to prove that exorcisms aren't real.  It's a strong premise, it's a good justification.  They also use it to capture some subtle imagery (there's some actual foreshadowing in this thing!), too.  

Patrick Fabian is able to do a lot with little.  One short shot "I should have read the letter more closely...I don't like working with kids" has such weight.

Ashley Bell is also just extraordinary.  We meet her and she's full of life, totally committed to the role, with her shy smiles and sweet eyes and oh so much vulnerability...our hearts totally belong to Nell in one or two short scenes.  The massive blush and tears at being compared to her Mother, how excited and moved she is by being given the boots...we just love her.  I wish Bell was more successful.

I think one of the greatest compliments this film could be given is that it would work without demonic chicanery.  When we're introduced to The Sweetzers, we meet people with deep psychological and emotional pain.  There's so much conflict to be mined-and the film does mine it-and could end up being the real thing: in fact, I sort of bought it and was kinda bowled over at first.  I really did think, for a short period, that maybe this story wasn't about demonic possession at all but the emotional damage done to a young woman by the horrors of humanity, not the devil.  Of course, that turned out to be wrong (WAY wrong)...but it could have worked, and that's really something.

Reverend Marcus and his performances (a performer giving a performance as a performer giving a performance) are wonderful stuff.  His use of magic tricks and misdirection is some really smart stuff, especially as they have the cut aways showing how the tricks work...it's cute, it's clever.  It adds a sense of dread to the proceedings, especially as we become convinced that maybe she really IS possessed and we realize that-unlike Damian Karras-Marcus is full of shit.  Once the demon eventually shows up, we wonder if Marcus actually has any weapons that will work. There's such a wonderful duality to Marcus: believer and fraud, mercenary but generous, self-serving and selfless.  He might be one of my favorite horror heroes ever.  Too bad they couldn't build a franchise around him.  Well, not really: I think too much of him wouldn't work.  Franchises are risky business and we're usually better off without them (He said, knowing he would be doing franchises sooner rather than later).

A hand should be given to the extraordinary supporting cast, too.  Louis Herthum gives a wonderful performance.  A desperate man, an angry and wounded man.  It's a tough job being a decoy antagonist, and Herthum does an excellent job with it, especially when we discover the truth of his role in events.  The Last Exorcism is a movie that definitely rewards a second viewing.  Also, we have Iris Behr who does a real service being the epitome of supporting character: she doesn't do much but act as a foil (we really learn very little about her, which isn't out of place considering she's a producer for the film we're supposedly watching) for Marcus.  But she gives everything to that goal and does a superb job.  

It takes some time, but when we get to the scary stuff, we get some good stuff.  Her shadowy walk down the hall, the ferocious drowning of the baby doll...it's creepy stuff.  Also, while it is a little silly, the possessed person taking the camera for a stroll is suitably entertaining.  Her out of focus mirror close-up is pretty freaky stuff.

Aww, poor kitty.

The cameraman makes some solid points.  I happen to know from experience: a sixteen year old kid and a sixteen year old psychopath are very different things.  Poor guy.  He's a modern day Cassandra.

Most found footage films never achieve the kind of tension this film manages.  It creates some real suspense using some really simple techniques: sounds coming from the other side of the door, banging around...Ashley Bell just staring at the camera as the cameraman barely manages to keep his breathing under control.  This movie does great sequences of events...mostly in one long shot, too (or at least appearing to be one-there probably are edits).  De Palma loved to use them for the same reason: they maintain tension and conflict in a way that resonates with the audience.  It's pretty easy to stay in the moment when the entire sequence of attempting to get a girl who is possessed out of the house as her Father is coming after them with a gun...all in real time.  Good stuff.  

Music is used very subtly in this flick.  It's mostly just quiet, otherworldly sounds and (shut up, internet) loud bursts to punctuate "jump scares" (because jump scares are needed, you jerks) and the cameraman making terrified sounds.  

Finally, a scene where the exorcist is really freaked the hell out.  Of course, it helps that we understand that Marcus doesn't believe in any of this...his terror is palpable.  The scene goes nicely: Bell is appropriately scary, Marcus has that wonderful moment when his senses fail him and he panics, and then a nice moment when he has his eureka moment that she's "acting out" and his holding her....great scene, really.  It's actually a pretty great misdirect.

The false ending is nicely done, as is the (albeit sudden) putting together of the pieces...and now we go to the finale, which I've been super excited to see again.  I absolutely adored it the first time, and have every time since.  Man, is it good.  Marcus watches the proceedings of the cult, gets so mad and then just grips his prop cross tightly, has a moment of absolute belief, and strides out into that field yelling "DEMON, YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE SOUL OF THIS GIRL" confidently...it's one of my favorite hero moments in all of horror.  The death of the cameraman and producer might have been a little hackneyed-it seems all found footage must end this way, even though it begs the question "who edited this film?"-but it's worth it for Cotton Marcus and his excellent hero moment.

I remember there being a debate online for some time...everyone was so certain that, with the downer ending, Marcus must die.  But then someone asked the question "What if Reverend Marcus triumphs?"  I liked the idea that maybe, just maybe, he pulled off beating the forces of darkness.  Sure, the cult would almost certainly carve him up like a Thanksgiving Turkey, but maybe he beat the devil before.

Final Rating: Three and a half stars.  Maybe even close to four.  It's a great film.