Rapid advances in video technology have inspired a new generation of truly independent film makers (myself included) to produce homemade micro budget films. Substituting imagination, ingenuity and stuff left lying around (flatmates?) for million dollar budgets. Often such projects are unwatchable DIY Blair Witch rip offs but occasionally there are exceptional examples such as Deadwood Park and of course the Blair Witch Project itself. Chronicles Of An Exorcism lies somewhere in between, being good enough to get DVD distribution in America whilst not exactly setting the world on fire.

Purporting to be the “real life” video diary of a “real” exorcism, the story follows two priests going about the business of ridding a poor (and unnecessarily attractive) young girl of evil spirits in the backwoods of Carolina. Looking on the internet the majority of reviews are unrelentingly negative, perhaps from overly sensitive religious types bothered about the depiction of Catholicism which is not exactly damming (it should have been, the film would have had more depth). Another reason for poor reviews might be that amazingly some people were stupid enough to think this was a real exorcism, only to be sadly disappointed. Well fuckwits, there's no such thing as Santa Clause so go back to your trailer park and drag yourself to death behind your own pickup truck because an organisation with a leader that preaches that the use of condoms actually increases the spread of aids is hardly likely to allow one of it’s most secret rituals to be filmed.

Chronicles Of An Exorcism is reasonably tense, with a few vaguely disturbing moments but it’s not scary enough and the lack of gore/makeup fx/cgi will probably put off many casual viewers. For those of a more tolerant disposition the wordy, intelligent script does discuss matters of faith and has a few nice twists and turns. The makers have done a good job with a non existent budget, it's well directed by Nick G. Miller who also co-wrote with Matthew Ashford and both put in decent performances as the two hot shot exorcists who have bitten off more than they can chew. Other actors, particularly Dara Wedel as victim Tina, are competent but bordering on amateurish which occasionally ruins suspension of disbelief or in the case of those slightly more stupid viewers - suspension of belief.

Chronicles Of An Exorcism isn't great, but it shows promise. It's more entertaining than most of the over hyped soulless CGI filth and endless sanitised horror remakes which Hollywood manufactures. Now that’s one place in definite need of an exorcism.  

Rating: 7/10