The Last Exorcism Christian Review
Horror movies aren’t usually a space where faith takes center stage. They’re more about jump scares, unsettling visuals, and eerie soundtracks than soul-searching questions about belief, doubt, and the human condition. Yet, The Last Exorcism, directed by Daniel Stamm, dives into these deeper waters, offering a mix of chills and provocations that leave viewers grappling with big ideas. For Christians, this film might not be your standard Sunday sermon, but it’s the kind of story that stirs thought and wrestles with truth in ways that can’t be ignored.
A Man of Faith, a Man of Doubt
Let’s start with Reverend Cotton Marcus, played with remarkable authenticity by Patrick Fabian. He’s a preacher, but not the kind that inspires with steadfast conviction. Instead, Marcus is a man on the brink of spiritual disillusionment. Raised in the pulpit and trained to captivate with charisma, his faith has faded into something performative—a script he knows by heart but no longer believes in.
Marcus isn’t a villain, though. He’s charming, even likable, and his skepticism feels rooted in real-world weariness rather than cynicism. He doesn’t see exorcisms as holy acts but as psychological games, rituals designed to offer comfort to the desperate. When he accepts the invitation to help a rural family plagued by what they believe is demonic possession, he’s not looking for a spiritual battle. He’s looking to expose a scam, to pull back the curtain and reveal the smoke and mirrors.
The Girl on the Farm
And then there’s Nell, the young woman at the heart of this terrifying tale. Played with haunting vulnerability by Ashley Bell, Nell is the kind of character that sticks with you. She’s fragile but not weak, her quiet demeanor masking an inner torment that unfolds layer by layer.
Is she possessed? That’s the central question, and the film does a masterful job of keeping the answer just out of reach. For much of the story, we’re caught in the same tug-of-war as Marcus and the documentary crew. Her symptoms—violent outbursts, eerie contortions, and cryptic warnings—could be the result of trauma or mental illness. Or they could be the real deal, evidence of something dark and otherworldly.
The ambiguity is part of what makes the film so compelling. It doesn’t spoon-feed answers, instead allowing viewers to grapple with their own beliefs about the spiritual and the psychological. For Christians, this tension feels particularly resonant. It forces us to confront the reality of evil—not just the supernatural kind, but the very real pain and brokenness that exist in the world.
Faith, Fraud, and the Line Between Them
One of the film’s most thought-provoking aspects is its exploration of religious manipulation. Marcus performs exorcisms knowing they’re a kind of theater. He’s seen the way people cling to rituals, even fake ones, as a source of hope. But The Last Exorcism doesn’t condemn him outright. Instead, it invites us to consider the murky ethics of his actions.
If a fraudulent exorcism brings peace to a tormented soul, does the deception matter? Can a lie serve a higher purpose? These are thorny questions, and the film doesn’t provide easy answers. Instead, it leaves viewers to wrestle with them, much like Marcus wrestles with his own doubts.
For Christians, this aspect of the story hits close to home. Faith is a deeply personal thing, but it’s also a communal one, and the line between genuine belief and performative religion can sometimes blur. Marcus’s journey is a reminder that faith isn’t about spectacle; it’s about truth. And truth, as the Bible reminds us, has the power to set us free.
The Power of Ambiguity
If you’re a fan of horror, you’ll recognize some of the genre’s classic elements in The Last Exorcism. The shaky camera work, the eerie rural setting, the unsettling sound design—it’s all there. But what sets the film apart is its refusal to fully commit to one interpretation of events.
Is this a story about demonic possession, or is it a psychological drama about a family unraveling under the weight of grief and fear? The answer depends on your perspective, and that’s what makes the film so effective. It’s not about what’s happening on screen; it’s about what’s happening in your mind as you watch.
For Christians, this ambiguity is both a challenge and an opportunity. It forces us to confront our own beliefs about the supernatural, about the existence of evil, and about the ways in which faith can both heal and harm.
The Flawed Finale
And then there’s the ending. Oh, the ending. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say it’s divisive. After spending so much time balancing on the knife’s edge of ambiguity, the film takes a hard turn into more traditional horror territory. For some viewers, this will be a satisfying payoff, a resolution that ties up loose ends. For others—myself included—it feels like a step backward, a retreat from the nuanced storytelling that made the rest of the film so compelling.
That said, the final act doesn’t completely undermine what came before. It’s still unsettling, still thought-provoking. But it’s also a reminder that horror, as a genre, often prioritizes shock over substance.
Performances That Anchor the Terror
What makes The Last Exorcism work, despite its flaws, are the performances. Fabian’s Marcus is charismatic and conflicted, a man who’s easy to root for even when he’s making questionable choices. Bell’s Nell is a revelation, her performance teetering between innocence and menace in a way that feels genuinely unnerving.
The supporting cast, too, adds depth to the story. Louis Herthum, as Nell’s father, is particularly effective, portraying a man whose unwavering faith borders on fanaticism. His rigidity serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of zeal without wisdom.
A Christian Perspective
From a Christian perspective, The Last Exorcism is a mixed bag. On one hand, it raises important questions about faith, doubt, and the nature of evil. It invites us to think deeply about what we believe and why we believe it. On the other hand, it lacks the theological grounding that might have given its story more weight.
The Bible speaks often about the reality of spiritual warfare, about the forces of darkness that seek to harm and deceive. The Last Exorcism touches on these themes but doesn’t fully engage with them. It’s more interested in the human side of the story—the doubts, the fears, the messy, complicated reality of faith.
For some viewers, this will be enough. For others, it might feel like a missed opportunity.
Final Thoughts
The Last Exorcism isn’t perfect. Its ending is divisive, its theology shallow, and its scares sometimes feel derivative. But it’s also a deeply human story, one that grapples with big ideas in a way that few horror films do.
For Christians, it’s a chance to reflect on the complexities of faith, the reality of evil, and the ways in which doubt can lead to deeper understanding. It’s not a movie that will provide answers, but it’s one that will leave you asking the right questions.
Rating: 7/10
A flawed but fascinating film, The Last Exorcism is a reminder that horror can be more than just scares—it can be a window into the human soul.
