MovieChat Forums > The Last Exorcism (2010) Discussion > Cotton's Redemption (spoilers)

Cotton's Redemption (spoilers)

posted 12 years ago by carpdady
9 replies | jump to latest

It was pretty clear that the main themes of this movie were Cotton's reaffirmation of faith which I felt to be emotionally powerful given his actions at the end of the movie.

Cotton was introduced as a show man and performer who tossed words around with little meaning or heart behind them. A sceptic of demons and exorcism. He performed exorcisms somewhat like his sermons, to ease the mind of 'delusional people'. Not to say he didn't believe in God, he just gave him lip service.

When Cotton first meets Caleb on the road, Caleb tells Cotton to turn around and makes it clear Cotton is not welcome. He does this because he himself is a demon worshipper and probably felt threatened by a pastor coming to his house. This leads to one of the few scenes I actually found funny. After performing the first exorcism, which was a total production, Caleb realizes it and goes up to Cotton laughing and says something to the effect, "We won't have any problems now." Because Cotton does not believe the words they are simply being said as a performance. During the second exorcism in the barn Cotton is reading from Ephesians and Abalam yells out "Words, words, words!" for the same reason.

After a bunch of people lie to Cotton, despite him telling everybody several times not to believe demons and lies, he thinks everything is explained and heads home. Finds out the truth from gay waiter, heads back to discover a satanic ritual going on with Nell and her father tied up.

Now comes the scene that I really like. There is all this evil around and it is dark and scary *beep* is happening. The camera man turns to Cotton. Cotton seems to be in deep thought grasping the crucifix (which was previously a prop in his "exorcism") he stands up and strides out into the field to help the innocent Nell with only faith and God as his ally.

Everything after that picture of Cotton's silhouette in the night against the fire with his crucifix held high is not important.That is when the movie really ends, with his redemption.

Just watched "The Possession" the other day and thought this movie was a lot better because of the above story arc.

[–] WilltoPower 12 years ago

I agree with you. I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking this movie is about something other than Cotton. The exorcism, the cultists, and the rest were not the point of the movie. I think anyone who believed that they were would have found the movie really confusing.

[–] sandifay62 12 years ago

The point of the movie to me, was about faith, but I don't see Cotton as being redeemed. He got spooked and turned to the Bible. His confronting the Demon seemed to me more about his saving face or delusion of grandeur. It was too late to help anybody else. I think redemption comes from love and sacrifice. He sacrificed nothing but leading his people to death.

[–] UltimaGabe 12 years ago

I disagree wholeheartedly. If he was spooked, he could have just turned around and left, and he would have lost nothing but a faith he had already abandoned. Instead, he saw that someone had to do something to stop the demon, and he knew he was the only one to do it. As we saw before the second exorcism when he was praying by himself, he had begun to turn back to his abandoned faith- and when he grabbed the cross and began to pray before approaching the fire, he was sacrificing himself in the hopes of stopping the demon. I really don't see how you can say he wasn't redeemed. You don't sacrifice your life for something you don't believe in.

[–] jswindter01 11 years ago

by sandifay62 »
The point of the movie to me, was about faith, but I don't see Cotton as being redeemed. He got spooked and turned to the Bible. His confronting the Demon seemed to me more about his saving face or delusion of grandeur. It was too late to help anybody else. I think redemption comes from love and sacrifice. He sacrificed nothing but leading his people to death.

I don't believe there could have been a more redeeming moment for Cotton than his laying down his very life for the soul of a person unrelated to him in every single way.

Cotton regained his faith fully in those last moments and quite literally , and selflessly, sacrificed himself, solely, for the sake of Nell. It was not to stop the demon(in terms of "killing" it); It was to intervene in the demon taking Nell's soul, and Cotton makes clear his reason for his actions as he walks fatefully toward the fiery demonic force. He says, "Demon, I will not allow you to have the soul of this innocent young girl." His sacrifice was no less than the utmost of redemption in regards to this plot point of the film. There is no greater sacrifice than to lay down one's life for another, especially for another who is of no relation or connection to the man who selflessly gave his life for the sake of her soul.
(*and yes, I realize I am really late to the game, so to speak, in regards to replying to this particular topic*)

[–] macgirl66 10 years ago

I have to agree. It is a shame the woman who was with him had to die as well, since she wasn't so enthusiastic about his crusade, but he wanted to try and save Nell's soul from the demon. If they had "left and called the police", as she had suggested, they might still be alive, but Nell and her father would be dead, sacrificed to this demon and their satanic ritual and literally, down in the pits of hell. He really did find his faith again to offer his life to try and save her.

To each their own...opinion

[–] bing-57 9 years ago

> I don't believe there could have been a more redeeming moment for Cotton than his laying down his very life for the soul of a person unrelated to him in every single way.

Except that he also laid down the lives of his production crew -- against their wishes and their pleading to get out of there.

Had Cotton really meant to do good, he would have given them the keys and told them to get out of there and call the FBI. And then he would have given them a fifteen-minute head start. But no, he killed his friends.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

[–] Cheena71 11 years ago

I love this thread and agree with your post!

[–] anchurney 11 years ago

First I will say, this scene was the best by far. I posted a while back, and was kind of surprised nobody picked up on it. Earlier in the movie his death is predicted by her picture. But the whole prediction was prior to him getting his faith back. My feeling was once he got his faith back, that fate could possibly be changed. I'm not saying he lived, but God has prevailed over evil many times, and once he gained his faith back it was game on! I don't know how the other movie went, or if they said he died, I never even bothered to watch because I heard it was garbage. Overall I enjoyed the movie, and loved the guy who played Cotton.(I remembered him from Big Love as I had never missed an episode.)

[–] Stickman_Cinema 10 years ago

Ditto