The Last Exorcism (2010) PG-13

Not what I, or anyone else, was expecting. This is a slow (very slow) exorcism tale unlike anything I've ever seen. This isn't director Daniel Stamm's first film, but it's the first I've ever heard of. He does a great job building tension throughout the film. Unfortunately it's all forgotten after an odd, head scratching ending that will leave a bad taste in your mouth. Which is a shame because the build-up was, for the most part, enjoyable. This film doesn't quite have enough scares or thrills for my taste, which is what makes it different from other exorcism films. The majority of the film is shot in a colored 'Blair Witch' style, which I had no problem with. It focuses on a Baton Rouge, LA Pastor named Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian). He does exorcisms for a living, but doesn't believe in demons. Everything he does is fake; it's a show. Cotton and his two colleagues are making a documentary to disprove exorcisms.

The first 30 minutes are often quite funny, while we get to see how Cotton turns these exorcisms into a big show, that everyone buys into. He uses speakers, wires, shockers, and peoples imaginations so he can get paid. The sad thing is that people like Pastor Marcus do exist. A lot of religious people in America are phonies, who're just trying to make a quick buck. However, demons also exist, and Cotton is about to find that out, or is he? He gets a letter from a man, Louis Sweetzer (Louis Herthum), who claims his daughter Nell (Ashley Bell) is possessed. They show up on the scene, cameras in hand. Louis' son Caleb (Caleb Landry Jones) doesn't want them there, and he makes it very clear in a great, creepy scene. They start the whole phony process with Nell and everything works to perfection. Cotton gets paid and they shack up in the local hotel.

Cotton wakes up and finds Nell standing in his locked room. She's unresponsive and throwing up on herself. Shook up and worried, the crew brings her to the hospital. The doctors say nothing is wrong with her. While Cotton and his crew are still in town, Nell stabs Caleb in the face. They try to lend a helping hand to them and get her help, but hell has officially arrived at the Sweetzer farm. There are so many questions possed, and I had no idea how it was all going to end up. Is she really possessed? Is the father not telling the whole truth? Is this small town somehow involved? Is it time for Pastor Marcus to start believing in demonic possession?

This is not a bad film. It's probably too slow for most viewers, but that wasn't the problem for me. I felt like they rushed the ending. Just when we think we have things figured out, they throw us a curve ball, which is fine. However, nothing is explained, and frankly I still don't know exactly what was going on in the final minute. None of it quite adds up. I'm not going to ruin it for anyone, so I'll leave it at that. If you like horror/exorcism films than I absolutely think you should check it out. It will have you talking afterwards, that much is for certain. Oh, and this will not be the last exorcism.
B-