My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily at Margaret's lake house, a tranquil remote location that serves as the backdrop for the friends' gathering. An eerie abandoned building nearby adds to the suspenseful atmosphere and becomes a key site where the characters confront supernatural events.

• lake house
• setting
• abandoned building
• Margaret's lake house

My Best Friend's Exorcism is set in 1988, embracing the aesthetics, music, and cultural trends of the 1980s. This retro setting provides a nostalgic counterpoint to the dark horror content, combining coming-of-age nostalgia with supernatural terror.

• 1988
• 1980s
• time period
• era
• setting

The film explores three central themes: possession as a metaphor for losing one's identity to external influences, friendship tested by extreme circumstances with themes of trust and betrayal, and the supernatural as a force that reveals human vulnerabilities. These themes intersect to create a story about the darkness that can infiltrate close relationships.

• themes
• possession
• friendship
• supernatural
• identity

Abby Rivers is the film's protagonist, portrayed by Elsie Fisher. She is characterized as a fiercely loyal friend who remains determined to uncover the truth behind her best friend Gretchen's disturbing transformation. Abby serves as the driving force of the narrative, taking initiative to seek help when adults dismiss her concerns.

• Abby Rivers
• protagonist
• Elsie Fisher
• main character

Gretchen Lang is Abby's best friend, played by Amiah Miller, who becomes the center of the film's supernatural conflict. Her character undergoes a transformation when she becomes possessed by a malevolent entity, shifting from a beloved friend to a manipulative antagonist. Her journey represents the central horror element and the emotional core of the story.

• Gretchen Lang
• Amiah Miller
• possessed character
• antagonist

The possession theme functions as both literal supernatural horror and a metaphor for how external influences can corrupt personal identity. Gretchen's transformation into a malevolent version of herself explores how people can lose themselves to darker impulses, while Abby's fight to save her represents the struggle for autonomy and the enduring power of friendship.

• possession
• identity
• metaphor
• corruption
• autonomy

Friendship is portrayed as both resilient and fragile in the face of extraordinary circumstances. Abby and Gretchen begin with a close, devoted bond that becomes severely tested as the demonic possession progresses and trust erodes. Their connection ultimately demonstrates that true friendship can endure even the darkest trials, though not without lasting consequences.

• friendship
• bond
• trust
• betrayal
• loyalty

The Ouija board serves as the catalyst for the supernatural events, representing humanity's fascination with the unknown. Its use at the lake house unintentionally opens a doorway to malevolent forces, exploring the thin veil between reality and the paranormal. This supernatural element drives the narrative forward and unleashes the horror that follows.

• Ouija board
• supernatural
• paranormal
• catalyst

The 1980s setting contributes nostalgic 80s aesthetics, music, and cultural references that contrast with the dark horror narrative. This creates a unique tone blending retro nostalgia with supernatural terror, making the horror feel more unsettling against the familiar backdrop of 80s teenage culture and coming-of-age experiences.

• 1980s setting
• nostalgia
• retro
• 80s culture
• aesthetics

Glee Tanaka, played by Cathy Ang, is a member of the friend group who becomes caught in the turmoil between Abby and Gretchen. Her character embodies the experience of being a teenager navigating supernatural chaos and the heartbreak of witnessing a friendship fracture. She represents the emotional toll the events have on those surrounding the central conflict.

• Glee Tanaka
• Cathy Ang
• friend group
• supporting character

The film maintains a predominantly dark tone focused on the harrowing subject of possession and the corruption of a close friendship. Despite the serious themes, the 1980s setting provides slight nostalgic relief. The narrative balances horror with elements of teenage comedy, creating a genre-blending experience that deals with themes of trauma and betrayal while maintaining emotional weight.

• tone
• mood
• dark
• horror
• comedy
• atmosphere

My Best Friend's Exorcism combines supernatural horror with possession and exorcism themes. The film features escalating demonic threat, psychological manipulation, and physical violence, including a climactic exorcism sequence. The horror emerges primarily from the transformation of a trusted friend into something dangerous, blending psychological thriller elements with classic demon narrative.

• horror
• supernatural
• possession
• exorcism
• demonic
• thriller