Written and directed by Leroy Kincade
Starring Bethan Waller, Johnny Flemming, and Kit Smith
Unrated
Runtime: 1 hour 47 min
On demand and digital November 26

by Whitley Albury, Staff Writer

I’m usually not one for possession/exorcism films. Blame it on growing up in the Bible Belt, or that being the one horror line I just won’t cross. But the basic synopsis of this sparked something: a medical student (so very sciencey) starts to experience weird shit after she moves in with her boyfriend.

Yes, being possessed by Legion is very bad, would not recommend it. But honestly...I think Lucy (Bethan Waller) was just in a lose-lose situation, no matter how you cut it. I know studying from home isn’t exactly ideal. But hey, it’s 2021, we’ve kinda started to get used to it by now. Plus she has her friends to chat with! But on the other hand, her boyfriend, Ben (Johnny Flemming), sucks. Like, he really sucks.

For example, the film opens with Ben sitting at the kitchen table while Father Roberts (Kit Smith) goes to check on Lucy in full possession mode. And he just...sits. From the first two minutes, sure, I could give him the benefit of the doubt, because it’s terrifying having someone you love out of control. But that sympathy disappears once the film goes back to the beginning of their story. Lucy is prepping dinner and a cozy evening with Ben, who had said he was going to make a major sale at his art gallery. She leaves a cute little hint about him proposing, it’s all cute. But he comes home, pissed off, and just immediately becomes verbally abusive towards her. All throughout the film, he refuses to believe her, whether it’s seeing a man in a hat inside the house or entering the kitchen to see all the cabinets open. He’s just constantly an asshole towards her. It honestly feels like the “villain” here isn’t the demon; it’s the rampant misogyny in 2021.

Lusy says she’s experienced sleep paralysis and night terrors her whole life, and Ben just...straight up doesn’t come home some nights? Sketch at best. When she asks him about the previous homeowners, I will say I got a kick out of his response: “They moved to Australia or something.” The whole film is set in Kent, England, so the mental image of this family getting so scared of whatever was in the house that they just up and moved to the other side of the globe just tickled me.

There’s also a whole subplot that’s begging for a sequel, with Father Roberts’ former mentor, Ray (Ian MacNaughton), having walked away from the church due to his wife’s death, and Legion seeming to attach onto that pain.

While The Last Rite isn’t really bringing anything original to possession/exorcism movies (Lucy starts speaking Latin...while possessed by Legion...groundbreaking), I will say, the cinematography was absolutely stunning. The score by Edward Durcan was fantastic, giving me ample time to prepare for the one major jump scare in the garden. The fact that this was Kincade’s debut film is also pretty impressive, as was the acting. If you’re looking for a not-festive Black Friday watch, here’s your film!