The Overlook: The Exorcism of Molly Hartley

(imdb.com)

There are hundreds of exorcism movies out there. From the classic, The Exorcist, to the critically acclaimed The Conjuring, many horror movies at least feature some form of possession and eventual exorcism. However, like any movie subgenre, a surplus doesn't necessarily mean an abundance of quality and for streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime; these subpar movies have seemingly found a home. Sifting through the worst can be difficult, but if done well, can lead to some rough gems like The Exorcism of Molly Hartley. 


Offering the compelling point of view of a character ardent in her awareness that she knows what is happening to her, The Exorcism of Molly Hartley feels fresh, even if its special effects and execution of possession staples are weaker. The film takes place almost entirely in a psych ward where the lead character Molly - played by Sarah Lind (WolfCop) - is swiftly brought after killing two random side characters. Here she encounters our supporting cast of characters including a stunning Gina Holden (Harper's Island) as Dr. Hawthorne and former priest John Barrow, played by Devon Sawa (SLC Punk). Sawa is noticeably weaker than the other two, but luckily for the film, Lind and Holden are powerful enough to persevere.

Despite a blatantly low budget and questionable production value, The Exorcism of Molly Hartley is an entertaining flick worth a watch. Molly Hartley has all of the hallmarks of exorcism films - featuring displaced voices and references to the occult - and the film wastes little time establishing the story's backdrop; helping make a film that's far better than it could have been. All of this, paired with an original setting and a lead actress who makes the most of the material she's provided, make The Exorcism of Molly Hartley good enough.

The Exorcism of Molly Hartley has a twisting plot that'll leave viewers wondering what events are supernatural and which are clearly made up in Molly's head. Naturally, given the fact that it's a horror movie, audiences will tend to agree with what Molly believes is happening to her., but the film offers enough contrary positions to keep the film moving  Even the use of the tired "rogue exorcist" trope is forgivable given the film's other efforts in originality.

As noted, The Exorcism of Molly Hartley is nowhere near award-worthy. But, for all of the awfulness that fills out streaming sites' edges, this piece of work certainly feels like one of the best. Molly Hartley does take some time to win over viewers but once the legwork is done, this film becomes quite the entertaining romp with an especially effective ending.