The Last Rite (2021)

Leroy Kincaide's directorial debut, 'The Last Rite,' is an ambitious, if uneven, entry into the possession horror subgenre. The film excels in crafting a genuinely unsettling, claustrophobic atmosphere, utilizing excellent sound design and the strong, committed central performance by Tara Hoyos-Martinez to maintain a palpable sense of dread. Kincaide effectively translates a low budget into an aesthetic of oppressive isolation. However, the film suffers significantly from pronounced pacing problems, particularly during the protracted middle act where the slow-burn approach becomes sluggish and repetitive. While attempting to ground the supernatural elements in psychological realism, the narrative frequently succumbs to familiar horror tropes, undermining its thematic depth. It is a promising debut that ultimately lacks the narrative discipline necessary to elevate it beyond competent, atmospheric independent horror.