Movie Review: THE LAST EXORCISM

I copied and pasted your review into this e-mail. Instead of me just changing things (and you not knowing what I changed) I thought it would be better to show you what would improve the review.

You have a good setup for a review just needs some polishing. I have some suggestions. Not just for this review but to use in the future.

Your review:

A minster who has lost some of his faith agrees to let a camera crew film his last exorcism. Believing that exorcism is a fraud, Reverend Cotton Marcus sets out to show the world what it truly is. On his last case Marcus meets the Sweetzer family and their daughter Nell whom they believe to be possessed by a demon. Showing us the very snake oil salesman techniques that he has used in the past to con families out of money for exorcisms, Marcus realizes that something else may be going on at the Sweetzer farm.

These shoulder camera, documentary style films have serious ups and downs in my eyes. It seems that they can be really well done like The Blair Witch Project or bore you out of your mind like Open Water. Whatever your feelings may be about them, most people can’t help wanting to see this kind of movie. For me, it’s because Hollywood has managed to trick me into further believing that movies can be real. Even though you may have seen these actors elsewhere, they are usually relative unknowns and you believe what’s happening in the film. This low budget way of shooting film is genius because it makes the audience feel more involved and gives the film some depth.

*First off my biggest criticism of your reviews is that you use “I” too much. Your writing it. We know it’s you. Just state what it is. You don’t need to preface a statement with  I think, I feel, or I liked. Instead of wrting  “I think this low budget way of shooting is genius”…write..”This low budget way of shooting film is genius.” Then you need to explain why you think it is genius. Make a statement. Back it up with an explanation. Using “I” is ok. Just don’t overdo it.

Another thing I notice is you use “Roman” language frequently. This works for me and Jordan because we know what you mean. But for others its misleading because it is considered slang or figures of speach. Saying these films are “hits or misses” or “suck it up” or this style of films “bread and butter” are all ways of talking. Use them in the podcast. It doesn’t translate on paper as effectively. I like to see your personality in your writing, but use the review as an opportunity to make people take you seriously as a film critic. Because that is what you are.

The lead in this movie, Reverend Cotton Marcus, is a pretty believable character. The film does a good job of setting up his back story and luring you in. We get to see him preach to his flock in the beginning and meet his father who is also a Reverend. Being a Reverend is in his blood. Knowing this really made his reasons for wanting to expose exorcism and his waning faith feel real. The first twenty to thirty minutes or so is a real slow burn. It felt like the film had been on for a long time and was going no where. Once we get to the Sweetzer farm and meet our “possessed” Nell the movie takes off and you can appreciate the slow build. Nell is your average innocent little virgin who may or may not be possessed by a demon from hell. Right away we get that she is wholesome and immediately feel bad for her. The Nell character succeeds in pulling on our heart strings and hoping for the best for her. The movie is following the years of established little girl possession that we are used to. I liked how the film crew were involved in the picture. They never stole focus, but added a depth that I didn’t find familiar.

*Note: why is Rev Cotton Marcus a “pretty believable character?”Explain it. You write the film does a good job setting up a back story. What is it? I want to know. I am interested. Then you leave me hanging. You give details on Nell. Do the same for Rev Marcus.

Like most films of this nature it really relies on the building of a scene and more times than not what you don’t see on camera. The way the camera man walks into a room can really set the mood for the viewer. Having the camera man walk slowly upstairs to investigate a noise while we hear his breathing get a little heavier and faster brought out the intensity of that scene. Of course, we have our things that jump out at us and the shadows that catch us off guard, but that’s what makes this type of thriller work. Though I praise the art, It would get very boring if more films were shot this way. With this genre, less is more.

*This would be a good paragraph to give an expample of a scene with fits what you say about “building a scene.” You have very good points they just need some more explanation.

Unfortunately, this movie is awesome until the last three or four minutes. Never have I watched a film that I was this into and had it let me down so hard. It had all of the elements to be a great film. It was almost genius. You really questioned what was happening on this farm and it brought you in enough to care about the characters. Viewers could sympathize with Marcus and really wanted him to find his faith again. However, the movie needed a simple, neat ending and that just didn’t happen. I do not need everything wrapped up for me in a film and most movie goers like to interpret their own ideas from movies like this. The film tried to be bigger than the sum of its parts and instead of making this a film that I would never forget, it crumbled under the pressure to be more. The climax was so bad  that it brought my Fanboyz grade down from a B+ film to something far less. If you want to watch a great film this week watch The Last Exorcism until the camera crew enters the woods at the end. If you want to be royally pissed at a film this week watch it until the credits.

*Don’t say about it being a sleeper hit in a critical analysis. A sleeper hit is something that was unexpectedly popular and made a lot of money. Like Blair Witch, Big Fat Greek Wedding, etc. I think you just need to write about the style of the film. Sleeper hit doesn’t make sense in that sentence.

You summed up your distaste for the end perefectly. I like how you said that basically killed the movie for you.

We always want to hear your thoughts and feelings on a film. If you absolutely loved The Last Exorcism tell us why. Post comments below.

Additional Notes:

Capitalize the headline title:

THE LAST EXORCISM

Italicize all titles in the text. Blair Witch and so on..

Your Fanboyz grade needs a colon. It should read Fanboyz Grade: D-

I would recommend reading other reviews. Not just for what you are writing on but just in general to help get a feel for the style, format, and flow. Check out Vic’s review of Last Exorcism. One of the better blog reviews I have read.

http://screenrant.com/the-last-exorcism-reviews-vic-75146/

I hope you don’t think I was trying to rip your review apart. It has really good elements. I just want to show you what will make it even better. I am submitting us to get into screenings. I finally have the paperwork filled out. So let’s not “suck it up” so Fanboyz can be our “bread and butter”

Fanboyz Grade: D-