The film begins with Cotton Marcus revealing to the documentary crew that he no longer believes in the power of exorcisms and has performed them purely for showmanship and profit. He agrees to let the crew film his final exorcism to expose the practice as a hoax.
Cotton and the crew travel to rural Louisiana to meet the Sweetzer family, who believe their daughter Nell (played by Ashley Bell) is possessed by a demon. As they arrive at the Sweetzer farm, they are greeted by Louis Sweetzer (played by Louis Herthum), who is convinced that Nell’s strange behavior is the result of demonic possession.
Cotton performs a series of rituals and tricks to convince the family that Nell is no longer possessed, but strange occurrences continue to escalate. Nell exhibits increasingly violent and disturbing behavior, leading Cotton to question whether she might be genuinely possessed after all.
As the documentary crew continues to film, they uncover dark secrets about the Sweetzer family and the true nature of Nell’s possession. It is revealed that Nell’s father had been sexually abusing her, and her erratic behavior is a manifestation of the trauma she has endured.
Cotton becomes determined to save Nell from her abusive family and the demonic forces that threaten her. He confronts the Sweetzers and attempts to perform a genuine exorcism to rid Nell of the demon once and for all.
In a chilling climax, the demon possessing Nell reveals its true power, unleashing a terrifying sequence of events that culminates in a shocking twist ending. Cotton sacrifices himself to save Nell, ultimately redeeming himself for his past sins and restoring his faith in the supernatural.
“The Last Exorcism” is praised for its tense atmosphere, gripping performances, and innovative found-footage style. It subverts expectations of the exorcism genre, blending elements of psychological horror with religious themes and social commentary. The film’s ambiguous ending leaves viewers questioning the true nature of evil and the limits of faith.