10 Worst Horror Movies Of 2024
7. The Exorcism
It has to be addressed that The Exorcism, which stars Russell Crowe, has no connection with The Pope's Exorcist, which the Gladiator actor starred in the previous year. As bad as The Pope's Exorcist was, The Exorcism is dramatically worse.
This psychological thriller centres around alcoholic actor Anthony (Crowe), who's hired for a horror film. When he starts behaving erratically, his daughter worries he's given in to his addictions. But over time, it becomes clear Anthony has been consumed by a malevolent force.
In The Exorcism's defence, it has some neat ideas. Having the story revolve around a possession movie was a great opportunity for meta-commentary, especially with the nods to other "cursed" productions like The Omen and The Exorcist. Also, Anthony is a surprisingly complex character, which Crowe explores perfectly.
Unfortunately, The Exorcism falls victim to the usual cliches. The filmmakers mistake loud noises for effective jump-scares, the choppy editing makes every potentially scary scene hard to follow, and there isn't a single line or shot during the possession sequences that hasn't been done to death in superior films.
Mr. Crowe, you're better than this.