The Exorcism: Shudder Movie Review

Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, David Hyde Pierce, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg
Director: Joshua John Miller

The idea of an actor losing their mind while making a film about dealing with possession is a great one. 

As a concept, the dramatic possibilities of the premise are endless. Unfortunately, while The Exorcism spends a lot of time breadcrumbing its ideas and giving its star a chance to play up the ambivalence and brooding, when it comes to the crunch, it simply abandons it in favour of rote schlock horror shenanigans.

Crowe is Tony Miller, an actor coming onto a horror project as a priest. Troubled by his own demons and forced to take in his daughter (Simpkins) after she's been expelled from school, he already appears on the edge.

But things get worse as he gets into filming - leading to suspicions he's falling back on old addictions. However, is something more sinister at play?

The Exorcism has a great moody atmosphere and plays on its spiritual connections to the original film (its director is the son of one of the actors from The Exorcist) - but when push comes to shove, the film falls back on a few lazy jump scares and schlock to bring the horror.

Yet in its moments such as this, it gives Crowe the chance to bring some of the power he's not shown for years in terms of menace and malevolence. Watching his Tony twist, writhe and glower reminds you of the absolute command Crowe had during Romper Stomper.

Simpkins also deserves praise for a relatively thankless role - their interaction with Frasier's David Hyde Pierce make the more pedestrian and plodding sections of the film feel a little more alive with a degree of intelligence and depth the script hasn't quite afforded them.

Ultimately, The Exorcism stands as middling curio that offers brief pleasures but feels frustratingly like it could have done much more with its intriguing premise.