[fatherbowdern]

Since the debut of the first trailer for The Last Exorcism, there are immediate symbolic bonds between this film’s treatment of demonic possession with that of The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. As noted in my prior post, The Last Exorcism exploits the same nauseating camera movements similar to its mock-documentary-style predecessors, The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. Watching another cerebral-hemorrhaging film while being bombarded with stale and overwrought elements of past horror films should definitely send shivers up the spines of paying audiences.

In its 2:11 trailer, The Last Exorcism drenches the screen with familiar red herrings that draws too much attention away from something unique and original. Once again, all possessed individuals must be young females dressed in “Regan-esque” nightgowns with Cirque-de-Soleil acrobatic abilities. Even Jodie Foster’s character Nell Kellty from the film Nell would find it impossible to disconnect the dots between Regan’s spiderwalk and Emily Rose’s bodily contortions. The Last Exorcism plagiarizes the twisting, cracking neck scenario, void of the 180- to 360-degree rotations, along with the bloody-crotched theme of the most historic horror film in cinematic history, The Exorcist. At this point, it seems the only thing missing is the green-bile vomit (maybe).

One last issue is the barn connection. Yes, the barn connection. On the heels of the disastrous film, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, why these writers chose to follow in the same sinking footsteps is “beyond comprehension.” Emily Rose’s exorcism takes place in the family’s barn. In The Last Exorcism, it is time again for a performance of the rites of exorcism in the family’s barn. Perhaps there is something about the smell of barnyard animal feces that helps drive away demons because something already stinks about The Last Exorcism.

Father Bowdern

[Father Merrin]

I agree with your post, but in fairness with the demonic possession genre Directors are in a no win situation on a varitety of levels.

1, The Exorcist nailed th genre first time so it’s unlikely for a new film to top it.
2, If a new film follows the tranditional exorcist themese it gets criticised for being unoriginal. (for eg The Exorcism of Emily Rose)
3, If a new film doesn’t follow the tranditioanal exorcist themese it gets criticised for not following the rules of demonic possession. (for eg REC 2)

I’m not too worried about the camera style as The Exorcist has a Documentary feel to it. As long as the camera doesn’t shake around I don’t see too much of a problem.

I think if you want to watch a truely great realistic Exorcist film watch the German “Requiem”. It’s not a horror film but hey watch The Exorcist if you want scares.

Personally I’m looking forward to The Vatican Tapes, but if they can’t get that right I think it’ll be another 10 years or so before we can expect a worthy exorcism film

[fatherbowdern]

Father Merrin,

I think your point is true about “the rules of demonic possession.” Yes, Blatty wrote something original while Friedkin directed something unique using a non-intrusive documentary style, although ever so slightly.

When films like The Blair Witch Project and The Exorcist combine, the thinking is not original nor is it unique. Looking back over films with very different spins, such as Rosemary’s Baby (pre-The Exorcist) and The Omen (post-The Exorcist), both of these films championed very different and creative perspectives involving the devil.

By comparison, The Sixth Sense and The Others had some similarities, particularly the shocker endings. Both films, in my eyes, are winners. Thus, I believe a newly original possession/exorcism film can raise the devil in new ways.

Father Bowdern

[Father Merrin]

But I wouldn’t consider Rosemary’s Baby , The Omen, The Sixth Sense or The Others to be possession/exorcism films. They’re either ghost stories or films with the devil in them but I would say they were strictly possession/exorcism films.

I suppose that’s the problem with this genre, if you stray to close to The Exorcist it’s boring, stray too far & it won’t even be part of the genre.

[Father Merrin]

I saw this flick last night and what a disappointment. Not because the film was bad, for 90% of it it was really good. But the last 10mins completely destroy the film. What is it with hollywood directors that they’ve got to make dumb arse endings?

A short review, but pretty much sums up how I felt.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/2010/08/exorcism_schism.html

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