Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 16+
Tense "documentary" has some blood, lots of scares.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
A teenage boy's face is slashed off screen; viewers see lots of blood. In one scene, Nell borrows the camera and takes it out to the barn, where she proceeds to slaughter a cat; the footage is shaky and not much is visible, but it's still a gruesome scene. There's lots of scary imagery, ranging from violent drawing, to Nell suddenly rushing at the camera. In another scene, she twists her neck and back in unholy directions. She also breaks her own fingers while possessed. Some characters are beaten to death -- the footage isn't entirely clear, but it's very suggestive. The subject of rape is addressed.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
It's revealed that the teenage Nell is pregnant (it's suggested that the baby is her father's, but later a teenage boy is blamed for the deed).
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
Nell's father is said to be a drunk, though viewers never see any evidence of this.
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See AlsoThe Last Exorcism Ending Explained - EndanteThe Last Exorcism - Movie ReviewsThe Last Exorcism [2010] [PG-13] - 3.8.4 | Parents' Guide & Review | Kids-In-Mind.comSCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: THE LAST EXORCISMGet started
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Language
very little
"Jesus Christ" is used as an exclamation. Other language includes "damn."
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Positive Messages
very little
Despite its subject matter, this isn't a very spiritual film -- but it does find some good things about human beings. A cynical minister who has lost his faith agrees to let a documentary crew film a fake exorcism to prove that demon possession doesn't really exist -- but when his ceremony fails to help the victim, he does stick around to continue to try to help her.
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Positive Role Models
very little
Cotton Marcus starts off a bit like a snake oil salesman; he's a minister who has been preaching his whole life but no longer believes in what he says. But when trouble plagues the fake exorcism he sets up for filmmakers to record, he keeps risking his life to try to help the victim. By the end of the film, he comes across as quite heroic and perhaps may have even regained his faith.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Last Exorcism is a fictional horror movie shot in documentary style, much like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. It's not as relentlessly scary as those R-rated films -- there's a long setup before anything horrific happens -- but once it does get going, it can be very violent and highly disturbing. Though there's some blood and plenty of "jump" scenes, most of the horror is suggested rather than shown, but that actually makes it all the more vivid to the viewer's imagination. There's discussion of a character with a drinking problem, as well as talk of potential rape and incest. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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2:15
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The Last Exorcism
Parent and Kid Reviews
- Parents say (9)
- Kids say (23)
age 13+
Based on 9 parent reviews
Sb9983 Adult
November 7, 2018
age 17+
Interesting
I liked it I think it was good. I would to recommend for kids under 16. Umm just as an FYI since it’s not in the view thing. But under violence they do take the baby out of her and throw it in the fire.
moviemonster811 Adult
August 5, 2011
age 18+
PASS ON THIS TASTELESS MOVIE FRAUD.
This is a very deceptive, disturbing and psychotic approach to movie making of any kind. It leads anyone to believe it is a documentary but in fact is nothing but a movie pretending to be a documentary. Because of this approach, this movie has absolutely no value except as far as talent goes but just a circus of masters of deception. I don't like fraudulent behavior, misleading information or otherwise deceptive practice of any kind. This is a new door opening up in the movie business that shouldn't be promoted or applauded. What a scam. Just a perfect mirror of the chaotic scam that is escalating in society. Talking about the "Devil, master of Deception" this is certainly a model for that subject to say the least. If it presented itself as a movie mocking a documentary, it still would be short of any entertainment value. The subject matter ranges from a exorcism to violent incest. Not a movie that should be viewed by anyone with any moral compass.
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See all 9 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) has been preaching since he was a child and now no longer believes in what he's saying. As part of his job, he performs "exorcisms," which are fake and designed to bring nothing more than peace of mind. Fed up with the lies, he invites a documentary crew to film his latest performance on a "possessed" teen, Nell (Ashley Bell). Unfortunately, his ceremony doesn't work, and trouble continues, with scary threats and violent attacks. Cotton believes that the haunting is man-made, but eventually things get a little too weird to entirely discount a supernatural influence.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (23):
Like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity before it, THE LAST EXORCISM employs the very effective "fake documentary" format. This elevates the drama to a much more immediate, visceral level, and it also brings a great side effect. All three movies tend to focus on implied horror rather than explicit horror; since that leaves something to the audience's imagination, the result is much more chilling than all the violence and gore in the world.
The movie loses points for being one of the later examples of a now-familiar genre, but it does have a highly charismatic flawed hero in Fabian's Cotton Marcus. Thankfully, the movie gives him enough time to come to life before the scary stuff kicks in. The character's crisis of faith and his curiosity and confidence make him someone worth re-visiting, should there ever be a sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the film's violence. How much was actually shown? Was it more or less scary not being able to see everything?
Does the "documentary" format make the film more or less scary?
Is Cotton Marcus a good person, or is he a bad person who's deceiving people? What does he learn over the course of the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 27, 2010
- On DVD or streaming: January 4, 2011
- Cast: Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Patrick Fabian
- Director: Daniel Stamm
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Middle Eastern/North African actors
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: disturbing violent content and terror, some sexual references and thematic material
- Last updated: April 16, 2024
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The Last Exorcism
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