The Exorcism (2024) --My take on the movie with spoilers

 Plot: Anthony has just landed a role as a priest in a horror movie. But as he works on the movie it becomes clear that sometimes sinister is influencing him.

Russell Crowe is back in a priest's garb except this time he is playing an actor who is playing a priest.

While it's always a pleasure to see the prolific actor on screen, the actor seems barely giving his all in The Exorcism.

The movie has an interesting premise but it is brought down by deflated acting and clichés.

Still, there is something still worth seeing in there and maybe it's just a good star cast that you haven't seen on screen in some time but are thrilled to see them again.

THE EXORCISM Movie Plot Summary

The movie begins with Tom roaming about an apartment when he hears voices. In the next instant, he is restrained and we see a mark appearing on his neck. He is then killed.

Director Peter approaches actor Anthony Miller for the role and he is at first reluctant to play a priest. Anthony has just beaten his drinking problems and finally become sober. Apparently, his problems are related to a trauma in his childhood when he was an altar boy, and then when his wife died. He has an uncomfortable and distant relationship with his daughter Lee.

Peter advises Anthony to draw from his trauma for inspiration and that it will help him overcome and heal from them.

Lee has just returned from college after being suspended. Her father isn't too happy with her suspension and hires her as his PA.

At a party, Anthony reluctantly attends it with his daughter Lee. He meets with Joe, another actor. Lee goes wandering about and meets with Blake who is busy being moody with a smoke.

Lee enters, apologizes, and tries to be cool by stating that she got suspended. Blake signs that she will keep her secret but then walks out. It's supposed to be a meet cute but there are hardly any sparks.

The next day, Anthony and Lee head to the set. The actress who plays Lee, Ryan Simpkins, manages to look a lot like Russell Crowe so at least the casting is good.

Lee sees Blake outside her trailer while an assistant burns sage around her. When Lee asks her what is up with that, Blake tells her about the original actor who has just died and that movies on Exorcisms generally attract evil spirits. This is intercut with a scene of Anthony getting his hair cut and being dressed in priest robes.

He then meets with the film consultant Father Conor. Anthony, also called Tony, is uncomfortable meeting with him as it triggers memories of his past where he was hit by a priest and had wine splashed on his face.

This is the reason that he isn't that religious anymore.

As soon as he gets on the set, he suffers a nosebleed.

At night, Tony stands in the dark, looking at something. Lee calls out to him which spooks him.

Lee is starting to suspect that Anthony may not be taking his meds and relapsing.

As each day passes, Tony starts to get aggravated and his performance goes below level. The director makes a comment about Tony looking like he may be drunk and the baggy eyes are begging for a concealer. Lee is serving them their coffees and gets deeply offended but like a good worker, stays quiet.

More days pass and Tony does more of his standing in the middle of the night and struggling with his scenes.

Meanwhile, Lee and Blake get close. When Lee returns from a meeting with Blake, she fails to see the blood handprint on the door. She is on top of the clouds as she practically skips about only to find Tony with a bleeding hand and smears on his face. She remarks that he smells like a distillery.

They get into an argument where he points out that she has nowhere to go so needs to stop taunting him about his issues.

She keeps calling him Tony and he tells her that is not his name.

Now earlier he had told her to call her dad but considering his disoriented state, maybe the demon possessing him was telling her that it was not her name.

The next day, Lee has to deliver sheets to her father but hesitates. Tony seems distracted and sheepishly tells her he doesn't remember what happened last night. Lee helps him bandage his still-bleeding hand.

Later when Tony is unable to perform, Peter taunts him about his trauma which leads him to go in front of the entire crew and perform a contortionist act. Light flickers and goes out while the crew gasps.

Father Conor expresses his concerns for Tony's welfare and mental health.

Blake is shaken after seeing Tony going berserk and Lee soothes her by making out with her.

Tony notices this but walks away. When Lee goes to check on him, she doesn't see him spit out the medications she fed him.

He insults her lifestyle choices until Lee and Blake weep. Then he attacks Lee. Blake boinks him on his back but that barely deters him.

Tony then goes to stand by the balcony and falls.

We don't see him hit the ground but we do see Lee and Blake's shocked expression.

THE EXORCISM Ending Explained

Peter replaces Tony with Joe who asks him if he is sure. Peter is sure.

We still don't know what happened to Tony yet.

Joe is sitting in the dressing room when Tony breaks through the mirror to attack him. Joe is stabbed through the eye and killed.

Blake tells Lee what happened to Joe and the both of them are terrified. They reach out to Father Conor who is keen to help them.

Apparently, a demon called Molech has been possessing those who have incurred trauma and have sadness within him which makes Tony the perfect candidate for possession.

There's a lot of screaming as an exorcism is attempted but Tony/Molech thwarts their efforts.

Eventually, they manage to subdue Tony and Father Conor asks the demon inside Tony to possess him inside.

The demon immediately jumps into Father Conor.

Tony snaps to reality and reaches into his previous religious beliefs to perform the exorcism rites. Apparently, the words are only words until you have faith. Tony has found his faith and uses the names of all the saints to subdue and then defeat the demon by stabbing him and setting him on fire.

Tony has successfully performed an exorcism!

The movie ends on a happy note with father and daughter now in a better relationship.

THE EXORCISM is okay for a one-time watch but don't expect to be blown away by it. Watch it if you want to watch every movie Russell Crowe has ever been in.

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Watch it on Amazon Prime