The Exorcism

Directed by Joshua John Miller, The Exorcism follows an alcoholic actor (Russell Crowe’s Anthony Miller) as he begins experiencing bizarre happenings on the set of his latest movie. Filmmaker Miller, armed with his and M.A. Fortin’s screenplay, admittedly does a terrific job of initially capturing the viewer’s interest and attention, as The Exorcism kicks off with a compelling first act that details the behind-the-scenes efforts to get that aforementioned movie off the ground – with the impact of this stretch, which also boasts a strong opening sequence, heightened by Crowe’s predictably engaging turn as the beleaguered protagonist. It’s disappointing to note, then, that The Exorcism segues into an egregiously deliberate (and fairly dull) midsection and second half suffused with questionable attributes, with Miller’s ongoing efforts at weaving horror elements into the narrative, for the most part, falling completely and hopelessly flat – which, when coupled with a tedious, endless climax, does confirm the picture’s place as an ambitious yet entirely underwhelming failure.

*1/2 out of ****