The Last Exorcism appears in an aspect ratio of approximately :1 on this Blu-Ray Disc. The transfer consistently seemed satisfying.
Sharpness was usually very good. A few wide shots looked a smidgen soft, but not to any serious degree. The vast majority of the film appeared well-defined and concise. No problems with jagged edges or shimmering occurred, and edge enhancement remained absent. In terms of print issues, no concerns materialized.
Like most modern horror movies, Part II went with a stylized palette. Much of the flick stayed with a pretty desaturated set of tones; a few brighter colors popped up in some moments – particularly during street scenes - but that was about it. Within those constraints, the hues were appropriate and well-rendered. Blacks seemed dark and tight, while shadows showed nice delineation and didn’t appear too dense. Overall, this was a positive presentation.
Similar thoughts greeted the fairly good DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Part II. The soundfield mostly delivered a mix heavy on atmosphere. Ominous noises cropped up in the side and rear speakers, and scare moments added to the track. Those elements created a nice sense of place and added impact to the material.
Audio quality satisfied. Speech sounded crisp and distinctive, and music appeared robust and full. Effects were accurate and dynamic. Low-end response showed good thump and richness. Nothing here dazzled, but the audio merited a “B”.
When we shift to extras, we launch with an audio commentary from director Ed Gass-Donnelly and producer Eli Roth. Both sit together for a running, screen-specific look at changes from the original film and sequel-related challenges, sets, locations and production design, influences and inspirations, cast and performances, music and effects, cinematography, and some other areas.
From start to finish, Gass-Donnelly and Roth provide a strong commentary. They lapse into a little too much praise at times, but they usually concentrate on film-related subjects and cover them in a concise manner. We learn a ton about the flick in this brisk, informative piece.
Three short featurettes also appear. We find Nell’s Story (2:37), Shooting in New Orleans (2:16) and Hair Salon Scare: The Last Exorcism Part II Goes Viral (2:21). In these, we hear from Roth and actor Ashley Bell as they discuss story/characters and locations.
The first two featurettes are purely promotional. “Story” is a decent recap if you never saw the first film, but we don’t really learn anything from these snippets. “Salon” shows a practical joke played on the patrons at a shop. It’s pretty lame.
The disc opens with ads for The Call and Evil Dead. These show up under Previews along with promos for Dead Man Down, The Woman in Black and Seven Psychopaths. No trailer for Exorcism appears here.
If you want a good supernatural horror flick, look somewhere other than The Last Exorcism Part II. Slow, plodding and pointless, the movie lacks anything to make it compelling. The Blu-ray delivers very good picture, appropriate audio and a useful audio commentary. I have no complaints about this release, but the movie itself bores.