The Last Exorcism may seem like a documentary about a horrific exorcism at first glance, but, in reality, the movie is entirely fictional. The producers of the 2010 found-footage supernatural horror film wanted the audience to believe that it was based on a true story, which is why it was shot like a documentary. As a result, the movie was a massive success at the box office as viewers rushed to the theaters to see if the narrative was true or made up.

The film was based on fiction and not reality, and it was directed by Daniel Stamm and written by Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland. The cast of The Last Exorcism included Patrick Fabian as Cotton Marcus, Ashley Bell as Nell Margaret Sweetzer, Iris Bahr as Iris Reisen, Louis Herthum as Louis Sweetzer, and Caleb Landry Jones as Caleb Sweetzer. The first movie's success generated a sequel — The Last Exorcism Part II — on March 1, 2013. However, given that the gimmick that went along with the first film had already been exposed, the second feature wasn't as triumphant at the box office.

The Last Exorcism Was Filmed Like A Documentary To Make The Story Feel Like A True Story

The Marketing Even Played Up The "True Story"

The trailer for The Last Exorcism played up the false narrative that it was based on a true story since it showcased the found footage from the movie and featured a dramatic voice-over from Reverend Cotton Marcus. The trailer was edited just like a preview for a documentary would, leading many to believe that the film was, in fact, non-fictional. Plus, Lionsgate used Chatroulette, an online chat website where s can communicate with random people worldwide, to promote the movie.

The advertising for The Last Exorcism played up the "based on a true story" appeal of the 2010 film. Consequentially, the movie earned $67.7 million at the box office against a $1.8 million budget and received mostly positive reviews. Viewers were drawn to the project because the possibility of it being real was a question they needed to answer. Of course, The Last Exorcism turned out to be entirely fictional, but the producers' approach to making the film led to its achievements.

How Documentary Horror Movies Helped Make The Last Exorcism A Success

The Blair Witch Project & Paranormal Activity Opened The Door

The 2010 supernatural horror film capitalized on the success of other found footage scary movies like The Blair Witch Project and the Paranormal Activity film series to ensure that it did well at the box office, as well. It was not the first of its kind to use the "shot like a documentary" strategy to increase its box office numbers, but it worked regardless. Like the ones that came before it, The Last Exorcism's advertising brought people to the theaters, and its content is what made them stay.

Other Horror Movies That Lied About Being True Stories

This Tactic Goes Back To The 1970s

Several horror movies have lied about being based on true stories. However, this is nothing new, and The Blair Witch Project isn't the movie that started it. Head back to the 1970s, and a series of masterpieces lied about being based on true stories. In 1972, Wes Craven directed The Last House on the Left and claimed it was based on a true story, although that was far from the truth. With that said, it was based on Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring, which was inspired by an old folk ballad.

The Silence of the Lambs was also based on Gein.

Two years later, Tobe Hooper directed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which started with the title card that said it was based on a true story. While that was also not true, it was at least inspired by a real-life serial killer, Ed Gein​​​​. However, the Sawyer family never existed, and it was only inspired by a real-life serial killer. The Silence of the Lambs was also based on Gein, but it never pretended to be based on a true story.

However, another movie in the 1970s that claimed to be based on a true story is more aligned with The Blair Witch Project and The Last Exorcism. While Blair Witch claimed to be based on a real story of people who disappeared, The Wicker Man opened with a caption thanking Lord Summerisle and the people of his island for cooperating with the making of this movie. Much like the Blair Witch, Lord Summersile was not a real person, but the filmmakers wanted people to think they were to increase the scare level of the movies.