The Last Exorcism

[The Apatow Crew]

I don't know, I thought it was. Looked like one to me.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

WOw, that trailer was awesome!

 

[BigSams50]

Looks good, i'll be checking it out

 

[Wolfwood]

A friend of mine (whose website is in my sig) is going to a screening tomorrow of the Last Exorcism, I'll let you guys know what he thinks about it.

 

[Boom]

The Last Exorcism

Let's hope so.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

The Last Exorcism has a viral campaign.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

Its been rated PG-13. But I think these type of films don't need to be R rated.

 

[Wolfwood]

Here's a snippet of my friend's review:

Inevitably this movie will draw comparisons to "Paranormal Activity," as it seems to have replaced the standard on mockumentary horror that the "Blair Witch" once held. Is it a fair comparison? In some ways, yes, but for the most part this movie stands far from the shadow cast by "Paranormal Activity" and pulls itself closer to new grounds, but falling just shy of it. Depending upon the reasons why you hated Paranormal, this movie may or may not be for you. For example if you hate that shaky cam effect where things get blurry and you get motion sick, that's in full swing here, but should not come as a surprise for this type of movie. If you hated Paranormal's pacing, you should be warned that this movie has a slow burn, but has a more explosive and shocking payoff.

www.thehalloweenblues.com

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Meh. I'll pass. I hate shaky cam BS.

 

[Spideyfan93]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNSaurw6E_Q&feature=player_embedded


Awesome and extremely horrifying marketing.

 

[Bim]

I saw a tv add for this one, i`m intrigued

 

[DCW]

love that marketing, scared the crap out of me, lol.

 

[Nightmare]

Meh. I'll pass. I hate shaky cam BS.

Cloverfield, Rec, Quarantine, eh

 

[Mace Bloodstone]

Cloverfield, Rec, Quarantine, eh

Didn't see any of those just because of that..

 

[Wolfwood]

The shaky cam isn't too bad actually

And here's a new link to my friend's review since that one is dead.

http://thehalloweenblues.blogspot.com/2010/06/last-exorcism-review.html

 

[Anjow1060]

This movie's ending SUCKED.

I loved every minute up until the last 60 seconds. Man. Such a sucky way to end it. I'm so sick of every docu-horror ending the same cop out way:

Spoiler

The cameraman gets killed. No closure. Done. Lights come up. Kiss my ass.

- Jow

 

[jacobed]

Oh Anjow I completely agree, the whole movie is kind of a interesting different take on the exorcism with the preist believeing it to be fake and what not. I thought the acting was all around pretty fantastic but wow that ending was effin terrible. It literally ruins the whole movie. Reminded me a lot of Remember Me, pretty decent movie up until the horrible horrible horrible ending.

 

[DCW]

Most reviews I've read have been similar to the last few posts, they say the ending is terrible. I'm curious as to why it's so bad though... I may check it out just for that.

 

[Anjow1060]

Just ends so abruptly with no closure or resolution. Like the ending of the movie is non-existent. It comes to a point when you think it's ending and then there is a U-turn in the plot (and oddly enough in the movie that represents it) and from then on it goes into this crazy (but incredibly short) 4th act and draws you back in and then ends.

It's like a whole nother movie started and then = boom. Ending. Tarantino structures his films like books - with 5 acts. And most have 3. If you want to know why you can't stop after 4 acts? See this movie.

- Jow

 

[ironwez20]

SO what since the dude camera shuts off and that has to be the end. Didnt even see what happened to the main character who was fighting the fire.

 

[Mace Dolex]

How the hell can it be PG-13 with it's subject matter? can you imagine if the Exorcist had been rated-G in the 70's?

 

[ironwez20]

Yea i know right. Transformers are trying to extract a demon from out of the bowls of he man.

 

[bullets]

I thought the film was excellent until the ending. It almost contradicts what it was going for. The protagonist really held the film together and it never relied on scares early on it just builds around whether the girl is crazy or possessed. The eorcism in the barn was a great scene and I love when Nell gets ahold of the camera.

One thing that really bothered me about the end

Spoiler

After the brother murders the cameraman it becomes evident that the footage would be destroyed . It doesnt make any sense for this documentary to be shown

 

[Heretic]

Okay, so Paranormal Activity and this movie did something no demon-possession movie should do...it acknowledged the audience. In Paranormal Activity, the demon...a freaking demon...lunged at the camera at the very end...scaring the audience watching in theaters...but otherwise, what did that accomplish? Was the demon mad at the video recorder? If so, why didnt it destroy the tape? Was it just trying to give a cheap scare to whoever was going to watch the tape in the future...and if so, why would the demon be so petty and childish?

In The Last Exorcism, the plot is moving along slowly, and they needed to amp it up a notch...so while everyone slept, Nell grabbed the camera, turned it on, started filming, and then went on to go do her thing. Why would the demon care, aside from the audience in theaters needing a scare moment to amp up tension? Was the demon trying to leave evidence for the camera crew to see...and if so, why did it then immediately try to kill the camera crew?

When you are making a "found footage" movie...it is vitally important to maintain a sense of reality. These movies are rarely very scary, so the entire thing hinges on whether people are buying into the gimmick and feeling that sense of dread. When characters start doing things that simply would not happen in reality, it ruins it.

The music in The Last Exorcism does this as well. The entire movie I'm looking around the rooms trying to find the piano player or violinist. This movie should have had ZERO soundtrack, as it was supposed to be documentary footage that was found. Why would there be music playing along? It was just a stupid, amateurish decision that undermined the intention of the film.

And the end...the horrible...stupid...ultra-cliche end!

I thought the the beginning showed promise. It seemed like it was going to be a commentary on religious extremism and backwoods thinking. As soon as the scares started though the movie jumped the shark.

 

[bullets]

I would say if someone was going to make a mockumentary with found footage then it's likely they would add music. The end kind of contradicts the whole thing anyway , it's not conceivable the footage would be found or used.

Nell using the camera isn't necessarily a direct wink to the audience , maybe it was a demon vlog or the demon was just mocking the idea of having a film crew around the house.