Director: Daniel Stamm
Writer: Huck Botko, Andrew Gurland
DVD and Blu-ray release date: December 27 2010
Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment
Number of discs: 1
Price: From £9.99-£15.93
Running Time: 87 mins
Certificate: 15
Starring: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Caleb Landry Jones, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum

Indie writer and director, Daniel Stamm returns to the award-winning ingredient of his directional feature debut, A Necessary Death. The Last Exorcism takes the well-worn fake doc style of recent horrors and gives it a new spin courtesy of a strong lead preacher in doubt.

Reverend Cotton Marcus was brought up a preacher, performing his first exorcism at the age of ten. Now all grown-up he’s seen forcing his son to go to church while having doubts himself. When he reads an article announcing the pope is to open a new exorcism academy, Cotton decides to expose exorcism for the scam it is. Previously believing exorcism “delivers a service” for those in need, he’s decided rather than healing, it’s harmful.

Taking a camera crew with him Cotton randomly opens an envelope begging for an exorcism and promises to follow the request wherever it takes him. The letter leads to Louis and his family – hostile son Caleb and apparently possessed sickly-sweet 16-year-old daughter, Nell. Louis’ wife and Nell’s best friend died of cancer two years ago, causing Caleb to start hating God and the start of Nell’s home-schooling.

Cotton rationalises, Nell’s crucifix burning as a nickel allergy but continues to “perform” the rituals of exorcism. With a book of demons handed down through family generations, Cotton identifies Abalam as the culprit to have possessed Nell – the most powerful demon listed who “defiles the flesh of the innocent”.

After the sham exorcism, Nell surprises Cotton by showing up speechless at his motel five miles from home and tries to strip off before vomiting. Since his wife’s death, Louis has lost faith in the medical system and no longer trusts “big city priests”; Refused treatment, Nell’s inexplicable behaviour becomes more disturbing and threatens more than the farm cattle.

One of the greatest strengths of The Last Exorcism is its unusual lead. Watching a priest criticising a community he describes as a “stopped in time place – the perfect breeding ground for demons and evil,” is highly entertaining. Humour is created by exposing Cotton’s unethical preparations to booby trap Nell’s room and watching him mock the locals by matter-of-factly asking where the UFO landing site is. Seeing a priest relishing explaining his trickery and contraptions to his crew, giving comically dramatic bible readings and boasting about the programme he uses with over 800 demon sounds, is strangely satisfying.

Convincing performances from the supporting cast make this mock documentary almost seem believable. A snarling Caleb threatening Cotton: “If anything happens to her. I will hurt you”, contrasts effectively with the seemingly harmless childlike Nell, who’s endearingly chuffed by the novelty of “Miss Iris’” DMs. The almost role reversal of these troubled teens helps build the suspense, leading to a crescendo of face slashing, cautionary notes (“Don’t leave her alone with him”), chains, the expected bone snapping and body contortion, doll drowning, sinister drawings, crazed eyes and ultimately a very limber Nell demonstrating some seemingly impossible gymnastic moves.

A fine follow-up to Stamm’s debut, The Last Exorcism, certainly isn’t an end to the genre as the title suggests but will take some topping. Introducing some talented new movie industry fodder and exploring the concept from a refreshing new angle, the film’s skimpy running time certainly leaves no room for boredom but unfortunately leads to a rushed-feeling ending.

***

Special Features

DVD Special Features

  • Actor and Director commentary with Daniel Stamm, Ashley Bell, Patrick Fabian and Louis Herthum
  • Audio commentary with Producers Eli Roth, Eric Newman and Tom Bliss
  • “The Devil You Know: The Making of The Last Exorcism” featurette
  • “Real Stories of Exorcism” featurette
  • 2009 Cannes Film Festival teaser trailer

Blu-Ray Special Features

  • Actor and Director commentary with Daniel Stamm, Ashley Bell, Patrick Fabian and Louis Herthum
  • Audio commentary with Producers Eli Roth, Eric Newman and Tom Bliss
  • “Witnesses to an Exorcism: An Audio Commentary with a Haunting Victim, Deliverance Minister and Clinical Psychologist”
  • “The Devil You Know: The Making of The Last Exorcism” featurette
  • “Real Stories of Exorcism” featurette
  • 2009 Cannes Film Festival teaser trailer
  • Audition footage
  • Theatrical trailer
  • BD Touch and Metamenu Remote
  • Lionsgate Live™ enabled, featuring extra content for Internet-connected players