The Last Exorcism, Part 2 picks up seconds after the first film and starts off strongly. But then the pacing issues, random episodic moments, and arbitrary new characters that suddenly appear (or disappear) sink the rest of this unfocused film.[SPOILER AHEAD]
I must admit that the central conceit of the film really took me by surprise and definitely felt like an original idea: the demon Abalam falling in love with the person it possessed – like literally, in love. I've always thought of the possessed simply as meat suits (as the Winchester brothers call them) and not something a powerful demon would admire, let alone love. In two very unsettling moments it even gently caresses her. This idea is where the film's premise begun, but unfortunately, the writers couldn't figure out how to flesh it out into a coherent story. I liked the ballsy ending but it was marred by too much needless CGI. Fans of the first film will definitely want to see this for Ashley Bell's earnest and harrowing performance which really elevates this film.
