The Last Exorcism

I only picked this movie because I was interested to see how they did the "found footage" genre. (I wonder how much longer we're going to get movies like that)

The Last Exorcism tells the story of an exorcist who has decided to come clean. For his last exorcism, he wants to document how he "tricks" the people into believing the rite has been performed.

Patrick Fabian plays Cotton Marcus, the exorcist who receives a letter to deliver a Nell (Ashley Bell) from a demon. Nell's father is worried for his home schooled daughter. His livestock are being slaughtered and it seems as if Nell is to blame.

Marcus and his documentary crew of two arrive to perform the "exorcism". After getting paid and providing Nell's father some peace of mind, the crew spend the night at a local motel.

In the middle of the night, Nell shows up in one of their motel rooms seeming sleep walking.

And the terror begins.

This movie wasn't as scary as I figured it would be. I'm usually a push-over for scary movies but this one really didn't have too many scare moments. (There was a scene involving a poor farm cat...)

Unlike most Found Footage films, The Last Exorcism has been edited and background music has been added. Who would have found the camera and decided to produce it with the kind of serious material found inside?

Ashley Bell does a good job of giving the camera creepy stares and how in the world can she go so long without blinking?

Like most horror films, this has an intriguing storyline with a few twists to keep things interesting. But sadly, the ending almost ruins the film. It takes one twist too many and ends in an almost different place. Too many scary movies fall into this trap: scary movie until the ending/big reveal.

The Last Exorcism is rated PG-13 for disturbing violent content and terror, some sexual references and thematic material.