Eli Roth who brought us such twisted films as the 'Hostel' franchise and the 'Cabin Fever' franchise has now called forth Satan himself.
In wide release this weekend is 'The Last Exorcism' produced by Roth. Roth is an actor/producer/jack of all trades around Hollywood. He's good, very good. Behold his new film....
Last year's mega hit 'Paranormal Activity' seems to have disturbed some very evil spirits. These evil guys are floating around Hollywood just looking for a film to jump into, and have found many. This weeks offering from the bowels of hell is 'The Last Exorcism'.
The film revolves around Cotton Marcus, (Patrick Fabian, 'End Game'), who is a fire and brimstone preacher, as was his father. His preaching career started when he was a very young boy. Little Cotton became an 'exorcist' performing several exorcisms during his career. As an adult Pastor Marcus continued with his devil removal business.
As Cotton gets older and has his own child a bit of remorse sets in....just a bit. As it turns out Pastor Marcus has been less than honest with his demonic doings. It is with this new found remorse that the Pastor decides to have a documentary made of his 'last exorcism'.
Two documentary filmmakers take the trip to Louisiana with the good pastor to film his last exorcism. They will also be filming the trickery that he has used his whole career. Cotton Marcus doesn't even believe in the devil. He's a fraud and he is now going to show the world how he's taken people's money and given them...nothing.
Cotton has chosen the possession in Louisiana randomly from letters he receives in the snail mail box. The request for an exorcism was marked 'URGENT'.
The crew, Cotton Marcus and his father's book on demons heads out to meet Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell, 'United States of Tara'). Ms. Sweetzer is a very innocent, rather backward young lady who believes she is possessed. Her father, Louis (Louis Herthum, 'The Gates') also believe she's got the devil on the inside. However, her angel faced brother, Caleb (Caleb Landry Jones, 'The Social Network'), believes that Cotton and his crew need to go home and never return.
As Pastor Marcus sets up his fake exorcism, the last he plans on doing, Evil takes control. After the religious non-event takes place the real fun starts and doesn't stop until the last frame of the film.
If you've seen the previews, you know that little miss Nell indeed has a problem. Her body contorts into impossible positions and she does hideous things to anyone within reaching distance.
This movie is so delicious, I gained 10 pounds just watching. No popcorn or soda was consumed.
The innocent Nell as played by Ashley Bell could be anyone's young daughter. Her ultra conservative religious upbringing makes her wonder about all the things that are forbidden. This alone isn't enough to curse one with a demon of one's own however. No, that takes much more evil.
'The Last Exorcism keeps you guessing, keeps you jumping and keeps your entertained.
There is a big similarity to 'The Blair Witch Project', which isn't a bad thing. 'Blair Witch' is the standard that mockumentary type films aspire. Eli Roth and crew have done a great job taking an idea that's been done many times and has done it better.
If your afraid of the devil, shame on you. If you love horror film....run to see 'The Last Exorcism'.
You can check here for theaters and show times here in Las Vegas.
Until you can get to the theater, check the preview below.
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