I can’t say that I went into “The Last Exorcism” with the utmost enthusiasm.

Another movie categorized under the seemingly played-out “exorcism” horror subgenre with relatively unknown actors when and it’s not even Rated-R, (for those viewers searching for at least a gorey bloodfest.)

Imagine my surprise when I left this film praising it as, at the very least, one of the very best horror films this year, and very worth your money.

The film follows our main character, Reverend Cotton Marcus, his cameraman, and sound lady as they attempt to film a bogus ritual and bust the exorcism business for the farce Cotton believes it to be. 

The journey from a skeptic’s mission to a uncover exorcism’s fraudulence, to confrontation with a very real supernatural horror is undoubtedly an entertaining one.

“The Last Exorcism” is such a refreshing film in so many regards.

It certainly triumphs as a stand alone horror film. 

It admirably implements supense and thrill into most every scene meant to do so.

It’s the movie that has come closest to perfectly utilizing its pseudo-documentary style. 

The up-close and personal, shaky-camerawork is akin to past attempts, such as “Cloverfield” and “Paranormal Activity.”

It is manipulated in a way that puts you through the terror of our main characters, with every horror-inducing moment seemingly in striking distance.

Much of the first act consists of Cotton explaining his skepticism revolving around religion, and his unraveling of the cheap parlor tricks employed by the men of his profession. 

Surprisingly, these portions of the movie provide the viewer with exceptionally complimentary comic relief. 

As a matter of fact, up until the final act, there is a very jestful tongue-in-cheek mood strewn throughout scenes and dialogue.  Cotton’s exorcist magic is especially funny.

The only real gripe I have with “The Last Exorcism” is the ending. 

It wasn’t exactly satisfactory on a mental level. 

But that’s not to say that my jaw didn’t drop with excitement throughout the finale.

The Last Exorcism releases on August 27.  I urge you to check it out in theaters.

I give it Three stars out of four.