WFG RATING: A

Vertical Entertainment and Vertigo Releasing presents a Miramax production in association with Outerbanks Entertainment. Directed by Joshua John Miller. Produced by Bill Block, Ben Fast, and Kevin Williamson. Written by M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller. Cinematography by Simon Duggan. Edited by Gardner Gould and Matthew Woolley.

Stars Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg, Adrian Pasdar, Tracey Bonner, Joshua John Miller, and David Hyde-Pierce.

An actor’s latest role could be his last in this insane film from former child actor turned filmmaker Joshua John Miller.

Addictions have nearly destroyed the career of actor Anthony Miller. However, he has a shot at redemption when he auditions and accepts the role of a priest in a supernatural horror film. At the same time, his daughter Lee has been suspended from college and it only is fuel in their estranged relationship. To keep her busy and on the straight and narrow, Anthony gets Lee a job as a production assistant, and it is there she befriends actress Blake Holloway.

Anthony at first is committed to the role. However, as production begins on the film, things slowly start to spiral down. Anthony can’t remember his lines and is berated by the producer and director. However, as the film continues, Lee notices some strange occurrences happening with her father. Convinced there is more than what’s going on, Lee turns to the film’s consultant, Father Conor. Is it Anthony’s past demons that are causing this spiral…or is it an actual demon?

It’s quite intriguing how 80’s child actor Joshua John Miller, known for his work in the horror genre, has transitioned well behind the scenes. He will forever be remembered in front of screens for his work in films like Near Dark, Teen Witch, and Class of 1999. However, 2015’s The Final Girls was a welcome back to the genre as a co-writer and now, he makes his feature film directorial debut on a supernatural horror film about an actor’s demons getting the best of him.

The film is spearheaded by Russell Crowe, who has delved from his Hollywood A-list glory of the naughts to some fine indie work as of late, notably this year’s Sleeping Dogs and Land of Bad. Here, he takes the lead again as an actor whose addictions of alcohol and drugs caused his career to falter. There is also the complicated relationship between himself and daughter Lee, played by a really good Ryan Simpkins. This proves to be vital as it will play an important role in the film.

David Hyde-Pierce, who under certain lighting resembles his former on-screen TV brother Kelsey Grammer, is great as Father Conor, the film consultant who may be the key to unlocking what is triggering Anthony’s spiral into possible madness. There’s also Sam Worthington on set as Joe, a fellow actor and producer of the film who believes in Anthony despite the past while Adam Goldberg’s Peter is the outspoken director who expects the best and berates Anthony when he starts to falter. He berates him to where he dredges up the past as if that’s going to motivate him. On the other hand, Chloe Bailey’s Blake is the actress who Lee has been a fan of and soon becomes her biggest ally and friend when she needs to vent out about Anthony.

Miller uses the “slow burn” method for the first two acts and it’s clear that something is not right. This leads to a gut-punching third act where we see what really happens and it leads to things you must see to believe and draws inspiration from classics like The Exorcist and others.

The Exorcism is an excellent feature film directorial debut for Joshua John Miller. Using the slow burn method, the third act is one that is unforgettable and brings out some amazing performances from Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, and David Hyde-Pierce. Horror fans should definitely check it out!

The film is now in theaters in the U.S. and will hit U.K. theaters on June 21.