'The Exorcism' Review
“The Exorcism” stars Russell Crowe. Last year he was “The Pope’s Exorcist”, but this is completely different. It’s not your typical horror movie. This is mostly about the making of a horror movie. Crowe plays an actor named Anthony, who is trying to make a comeback with a role as a priest in a film with the code name “The Georgetown Project”, but we all kind of know that it’s a remake of 1973’s “The Exorcist”.
So he steps into this role. His co-star Joe is played by Sam Worthington, whose presence alone in “The Exorcism” adds to the realism. The moviemaking scenes, including Crowe on a cool set with a giant house (going toe to toe with director Peter — Adam Goldberg), along with some special effects, feels very grounded and fun. Anthony brings his daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins) to the set and she becomes a PA. She meets one of the co-stars (singer turned actress Blake, played by Chloe Bailey). And there’s also Father Conor (a perfectly cast David Hyde Pierce). He serves as the expert and guide for Anthony.
But Anthony soon goes through quite a lot — and it all mirrors what happens in “The Exorcist”. I love the parallels. The co-writer and director of “The Exorcism” is Joshua John Miller, the son of Jason Miller, who played Father Carras. You can tell there was a lot of care put into this, from a directorial perspective and with the performances, especially Crowe, who knocks it out of the park, just as he did in 2022’s “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” and “Land of Bad”, which came out earlier this year.
There are plot holes. There are silly aspects. The third act, climactic horror sequence goes on a little too long and is too goofy. But I really had a good time watching “The Exorcism”, an atypical horror entry with a clever hook and a sufficient, enjoyable experience.
