MOVIE REVIEW: THE LAST EXORCISM PART 2

Tormented Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) discovers her infernal nightmare is far from over while waging a desperate struggle against the forces of darkness. Shortly after the events of the first film, Nell is discovered deeply traumatized in rural Louisiana. Her recent past is a blur, but the one thing Nell knows is that her entire family has perished. Later, just as Nell tries to start a new life in New Orleans, the evil force that laid claim to her body returns with a hellish vengeance, and a diabolical agenda. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Ed Gass-Donnelly

Cast: Ashley Bell, Spencer Treat Clark, Louis Herthum, Dave Jensen, Tarra Riggs, Muse Watson

Release Date: Mar 01, 2013

Rated R for horror violence, terror and brief language

Runtime: 1 hr. 29 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

The Last Exorcism part 2 is a pretty terrible title for a movie especially an unneeded and mostly unwanted sequel. It’s not a terrible film by any stretch but at the same time it’s a very good one either. It’s in between living in the wasteland of mediocrity. Horror movie clichés abound throughout the majority of the runtime. Director Ed Gass-Donnelly, who’s wholly outside of his wheelhouse, relies on all these clichés and just runs with it. He does a decent job of taking advantage of the setting which gives the film the slightest spark but it’s mostly uninspired. Ashley Bell, who left a strong impression in the first film, returns in the lead with mixed results. Bell isn’t nearly strong enough on her own to carry the film. She has a tendency to oversell her character’s naivety had she played it more subtle it might have worked better. As a film it’s a forgettable if watch able experience.

C-

MOVIE REVIEWS: THE LAST EXORCISM

IN THEATERS

THE LAST EXORCISM



When he arrives on the rural Louisiana farm of Louis Sweetzer, the Reverend Cotton Marcus expects to perform just another routine “exorcism” on a disturbed religious fanatic. An earnest fundamentalist, Sweetzer has contacted the charismatic preacher as a last resort, certain his teenage daughter Nell is possessed by a demon who must be exorcized before their terrifying ordeal ends in unimaginable tragedy. Buckling under the weight of his conscience after years of parting desperate believers with their money, Cotton and his crew plan to film a confessionary documentary of this, his last exorcism. But upon arriving at the already blood drenched family farm, it is soon clear that nothing could have prepared him for the true evil he encounters there. Now, too late to turn back, Reverend Marcus’ own beliefs are shaken to the core when he and his crew must find a way to save Nell – and themselves – before it is too late.

Director: Daniel Stamm

Cast: Patrick Fabian, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, Caleb Jones, Tony Bentley.

Release Date: Aug 27, 2010

Rated: Disturbing violent content, thematic material, terror and some sexual references

Runtime: 1 hr. 28 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Daniel Stamm spends the better part of his film building up tension and having you question your expectations of what’s really going on in this story. Unfortunately, the film takes an unexpected and unneeded U turn that makes everything before it seem totally and utterly pointless. It makes me wonder if Eli Roth, serving as producer, just couldn’t keep himself contained and felt the need to add his own flavor to the ending. The set up is interesting and compelling, giving you something unexpected from what has become a terribly predictable subgenre of horror. The cast of unknowns play their roles well and are believable for the most part, only a few spots of just plain bad acting early standout. Patrick Fabian is the strongest of the group as a PT Barnum type reverend who’s trying to expose religious rituals with a healthy dose of cynicism. Ashley Bell is more than adequately disturbing throughout, besides the fact that she looks a tad too much like Michael Cera for my taste. She plays innocent well but with a strong under current of something off throughout. Her ability as a contortionist is extremely helpful. The supporting player, like the camera crew and the girl’s father, are solid enough but forgettable. The Last Exorcism could have been a low budget gem if Stamm had just stuck to the trail he’d made earlier in the film instead of ripping off a classic movie about demonic shenanigans and it’s not the one you think.

C-