The Last Exorcism Part II (2013)

Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly. Starring Ashley Bell, Tarra Riggs, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark, Muse Watson, Louis Herthum, David Jensen, Erica Michelle, Sharice Williams. [PG-13]

I suppose if The Neverending Story had an ending, there can be two last exorcisms. The titular event is relegated to a few minutes near the end, but otherwise, this sequel drops the found-footage gimmick for a movie that more closely resembles Carrie than any of the slew of contemporary demon-possession pictures. Having survived and recovered from the grisly events of the first film, Bell does the Carrie White thing by slowly opening up to new friends and a shy young man with a crush on her, but she senses she’s being stalked and monitored by masked cultists who may or may not have dark designs on her as a vessel for the demon, Abalam. Bell’s sweetly fragile yet slightly unsettling disposition helps inspire curiosity and concern…up to a point, but the sketchy plotting, tedious dread tactics, and laughable ending ruin whatever slow-burn effect the filmmakers were aiming for. Eli Roth once again co-produced; written, rather surprisingly, by Damien Chazelle.

34/100