PopHorror Let's Get Scared
From New York Times best-selling author Grady Hendrix, comes My Best Friend’s Exorcism, an all-new horror comedy directed by Damon Thomas (Killing Eve, Penny Dreadful) and written by Jenna Lamia (Good Girls, Awkward.) It stars Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade, Despicable Me), Amiah Miller (The Water Man, War for the Planet of the Apes) (read our interview with them – HERE), Cathy Ang (And Just Like That…, Over the Moon), Rachel Ogechi Kanu (Cheer for Your Life), and Christopher Lowell (GLOW, Promising Young Woman).
Personally, I’ve never read the book (I wish I had), so I have nothing to really compare the film to. Based on what I watched, it will be a fun, quirky horror story but far different from the book based on what others have said, therefore my review will solely be about the movie.
Synopsis for My Best Friend’s Exorcism
Surviving the teenage years isn’t easy, especially when you’re possessed by a demon. It’s 1988, and best friends Abby and Gretchen are navigating boys, pop culture, and a paranormal force clinging to Gretchen like a pair of neon legwarmers. With assistance from overly confident mall exorcist Christian Lemon, Abby is determined to compel the demon back to the pits of hell—if it doesn’t kill Gretchen first. At turns horrifying and hilarious, My Best Friend’s Exorcism pays homage to 1980s pop culture with a totally timeless tale of terror and true friendship.
As I previously mentioned, I’ve never read the book so I went into the film not really knowing what to expect beyond high praises for it. I’m not quite sure who the target audience was for My Best Friend’s Exorcism, but it seemed a bit it all over the place. Much of it was very PC and very quirky (almost like a Disney original film), however there were some pretty cool horror scenes as well. Beyond that, I enjoyed the film quite a bit. It has female lead cast and begins with a bang, using the famous 80s song “Take On Me.” Right then and there I knew there was no way I would hate this film, because I’m a sucker for a killer soundtrack. Throughout My Best Friend’s Exorcism, you’ll hear nostalgic goodies like “I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Somebody’s Watching Me,” and much more!
The performances were excellent and the characters were lovable and relatable, especially if you ever felt like an outsider. Elsie Fisher (Abby Rivers) and Amiah Miller (Gretchen Lang) had a phenomenal chemistry on-screen and you can feel how much their friendship meant to on another. So when things go chaotic and their friendship becomes rocky, it’s hard not to relate to that heartache and connect even more so Abby. She’s just an overall amazing friend and they type that will do anything to protect the ones they loved even if it means losing them as a friend. Elsie Fisher really held her own in this film and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
One of the scenes that stood out most to me in My Best Friend’s Exorcism was when Rachel Ogechi Kanu’s character, Margaret Chisolm, isn’t feeling well and they determine it’s because of something Gretchen has done to her. A giant worm emerges from her mouth. It’s horrifying, gruesome, and one of the best parts of the film.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism may be different from the book, but I think it’s still worthy of watch and a perfect addition to your spooky playlist this October. So be sure to check it out, and let us know what you think!
