Movie Reviews
Movie Review: MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM (2022)
Highschool – it’s a horror film all by itself. It’s no shock the horror style enjoys setting itself in and around the globe of the younger. Issues appear to be going nice. You’ve gotten a crush on that cute new instructor when abruptly, your pal is actually PMS-ey! Wait… is it hormones or a demon? Effectively, My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism tackles this very query. Sounds pleasant, proper? Effectively, learn on!
My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism follows two mates whose lives are thrown for a loop when a demon possession interrupts their woman’s weekend. Highschool is already arduous sufficient with out having to consider the satan. That’s primarily our plot!
The highschool drama is compounded by non-public, spiritual faculty drama… how’s a teen speculated to determine issues out? Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Cathy Ang and Rachel Ogechi Kanu co-star within the film. Damon Thomas directs the movie from a script by Jenna Lamia. The movie is predicated on a guide by Grady Hendrix.
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My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism brings a formidable horror crew behind it. Director Damon Thomas labored on all the pieces from Dracula to Penny Dreadful. In the meantime, the movie additionally touts Christopher Landon as a producer. Primarily often called a author, Landon is finest identified to audiences for his work on motion pictures like Freaky, Paranormal Exercise and Completely happy Loss of life Day to U.
With this sharp horror expertise behind the digicam, it appears stunning that My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism takes some time to get going. Whereas there are some gentle horror parts, it’s in the end greater than an hour earlier than the scariness gears up.
As a substitute, the film is weighed down by horror of a unique selection. Teen drama. Whereas Elsie Fisher shines because the likable and sympathetic Abby, the characters (each possessed or not) round her are both imply and ugly or absent.
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In the end, the one character who comes near being as likable is Gretchen (Miller). Others have sympathetic moments because the scariness ramps up, however Abby is commonly painfully alone, and it’s not enjoyable to look at.
Maybe the movie intends to ratchet up the worry by isolating Abby. Nonetheless, horror nonetheless must be enjoyable to look at, particularly a horror film enjoying on the planet of Nineteen Eighties teenagers. My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism desires to play within the nostalgia à la Stranger Issues, however when all is alleged and executed, a lot of the enjoyable is lacking.
The narrative turns into significantly troubling when Abby involves consider that Gretchen was, the truth is, raped. Fisher follows a real and painful arc as she tries to get her struggling pal assist. Maybe it’s a touch upon the Nineteen Eighties and even on the spiritual group by which the movie is ready, however the blatant dismissal of this (and the ensuing punishment Abby receives) is difficult to look at. This is likely to be set off warning territory for some.
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This leads to a tone finest described as off-putting at finest. On the similar time, My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism desires to assemble a specific amount of comedy. For one factor, the title! On the similar time, there’s a little bit of silliness taking place within the background. The adults listed below are intriguing, however the movie doesn’t need to present it.
Various fascinating grown-up characters populate this world. Sadly, although, none obtain sufficient growth to totally carry them to life. This leads to many feeling like caricatures relatively than characters.
ELSIE FISHER stars in MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM Photograph: ELIZA MORSE © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
That is very notable, significantly in Gretchen’s dad and mom (Nathan Anderson and Cynthia Evans) in addition to The Lemon Brothers (Michael Proctor, Michael Wayne Foster and Christopher Lowell). These performers are every harboring pleasant comedic performances, however for one motive or one other, they aren’t introduced ahead.
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By all this, although, Elsie Fisher as soon as once more exhibits herself as among the best performers popping out of her era. She established herself as a power to be reckoned with in 2018’s Eighth Grade, and he or she continues that right here.
Fisher brings a singular potential to discover a quiet likability and sympathy to any character. For such a younger actor, she manages to search out essentially the most relatable humanity each time she hits the massive display. She’s a real expertise within the up-and-coming era, and it’s thrilling to think about the work ready within the wings for her.
AMIAH MILLER, ELSIE FISHER, CATHERINE JOYCE ANG and RACHEL OGECHI star in MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM Photograph: ELIZA MORSE © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
In the end, I wasn’t positive what to do with My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism as the ultimate credit rolled. The ultimate completed product involves the display with lofty expectations, however it might probably’t fairly handle to stay any of the landings. This film desires to be a nostalgic teen exorcism horror film with zany comedy.
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Might these tones work collectively? Probably! Nonetheless, they don’t on this case. As this film wrapped up, except for one other stunning efficiency from Elsie Fisher, I merely discovered myself reminded of how horrible highschool is. That’s one thing I didn’t want.
My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism debuts on Amazon Prime Video on September 30.
Take a look at our different film evaluations right here.
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A movie nerd from my earliest years watching Abbott and Costello, that ultimately translated to a Grasp’s Diploma in Movie Historical past. I spend my time engaged on my fiction initiatives in all their kinds, in addition to overlaying movie and tv.
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