I think it’s safe to say that every teenager goes through a period where they just want to stick it to the man, regardless of if they really mean it or not. For one teen, it goes a little too far. In The Exorcism of Margot Miles, the titular character’s penchant for hanging out with a jokester “Satanist” gets her into some deep trouble with her Catholic school admin. And though she tries to deny the accusations, the powers at be have already decided that her evil must be cleansed.
A young girl is accused of being a demon by her teachers.
The Exorcism of Margot Miles, IMDB
Margot Miles (played by Jade Spear) spends her afternoons handing out with her friend Jake (Jake Casper) while avoiding a school assembly on salvation. The pair are caught skipping, and as Jake antagonizes the principal with threats of Satanic activity, Margot is singled out and taken to a secluded house where a sort of “exorcism” takes place. Margot’s life is changed in a matter of one 15-minute short.
Immediately off the bat, The Exorcism of Margot Miles feels like a retro rendition of our favorite school-aged horror films. It has a sort of fuzziness to the lens that on one hand, makes everything feel nostalgic, but on the other, makes the short feel like some sort of fever dream. With a wide variety of shots — inside of a school, out in nature, and inside of a secluded home — The Exorcism of Margot Miles gives plenty of room the breathe while simultaneously giving the feeling of dark forces closing in on Margot… and us. It is lovely to look at, but eerie at the same time.
And that eeriness doesn’t stop at the visuals. The Exorcism of Margot Miles‘ storyline is practically yelling at us that something bad is going to happen. We’ve seen it time and time again: modern day witchcraft accusations and then people get hurt. Margot is our stand-in — she is innocent but beyond her years and yearning for a way out of her oppressive lifestyle, yet she is still only a teen and has no concept of how to get away, or that she even can. A group of men — in this case, her principal, the assembly speaker Mr. Jodz, and Father Blair — take advantage of their community standing and power over her to essentially kidnap and assault her. Though no blood is shown and the exorcism is somewhat tame (compared to the likes of The Exorcist or The Last Exorcism), it is still extremely frightening for Margot. Looking in as an audience, it’s hard not to get riled up and see that she is clearly traumatized. Margot meeting back up with her mother at the end is the final blow that really cements this in realistic terror.
The Exorcism of Margot Miles is many nightmares rolled into one. It is a teen’s nightmare, from being trapped in a suffocating school system to having no power over adults. It is a woman’s nightmare, being accused of things she didn’t do and punished (by men) for it. It’s a religious fanatic’s nightmare showcasing the worst possible scenario for one’s soul. It’s anyone’s nightmare of realizing those who are supposed to care for you, may be doing more harm than good. The Exorcism of Margot Miles really hits the nail on the head — or rather, through the hands and feet.
The Exorcism of Margot Miles was featured on Screambox’s Bloody Bites (Season 16, Episode 8). This and other shorts can be found on www.goodalehorror.com. Be sure to give them a follow on Instagram as well!
