‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’ Review: A Frightfully Unfunny Teen Horror Comedy for the Masses
Courtney Howard We may joke that teen girls are possessed, but the creators behind “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” take that concept to heart. Based on the book by Grady Hendrix, director Damon Thomas’ adaptation is centered on a pair of inseparable best friends dealing with a shattering blow when one of them is overtaken by a satanic spirit. Though this ’80s-set horror-comedy takes an old-school approach to capturing the horrific happenings, the stunts are lackluster and the comedic hijinks are a tiresome bore. With very little interest conjured from the filmmakers to properly develop their characters, there’s little incentive to stay interested. Abby’s (Elsie Fisher) greatest fear in life is losing her best friend Gretchen (Amiah Miller). Little does she know their relationship will be put to the test, and not solely because Gretchen’s scheduled to move over the summer. The pair are in a world of their own, a late-’80s dreamland filled with Aqua Net fumes, bombastic fashions and pop star crushes. But they occasionally make room for their classmates, including painfully shy Glee (Cathy Ang), brash bigot Margaret (Rachel Ogechi Kanu) and her obnoxious jock boyfriend Wally (Clayton Royal Johnson).