In the 80's I was privileged to view a horror film unlike any other - The Exorcist based on a novel by William Peter Blatty. Actors Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow(1929-2020), Jason Miller(1939-2001), Lee J. Cobb(1911-1976) and Linda Blair are forever inscribed to my memory. Exorcist spawned two sequels. The last directed by Blatty himself and starring the legendary actor George C. Scott. Exorcist 3 is the final chapter, period. Exorcist 2 The Heretic received negative reviews on release because it was a different film from the William Friedkin one. Exorcist 2 The Heretic was directed by the legendary director John Boorman who has directed some exceptionally good films: Point Blank (1967), Hell in the Pacific (1968), Deliverance (1972), Zardoz (1974), Excalibur (1981) and The Emerald Forest (1985 undoubtedly his best film). I have seen all of these movies and recommend them to you wholeheartedly. Exorcist 2 is the only possession horror film to star Richard Burton(1925-1984). Some good films of his are The Medusa Touch 1978, The Wild Geese 1978 and Absolution 1978.
The concept of The Exorcist concerns an Assyrian demon called Pazuzu(considered the king of the demons of the wind, and the son of the god Hanbi). In Exorcist a small girl, Regan, becomes possessed by Pazuzu. The first two Exorcist films deal with the story of Regan and ordeals. The Exorcist: Believer(2023) was made to milk success from the works of Blatty. I feel this is an ill conceived project. An absolute joke of a movie.
Believer concerns two girls who become possessed by demonic entities. The whole movie is centered around them and Victor Fielding(Leslie Odom Jr.) whose daughter Angela(Lidya Jewett) is among the two possessed. The film is a straight-forward exorcism film, similar to Friedkin's but with a less talented ensemble of actors and cheap CGI effects.
Verdict: barely entertaining but sat through it because of Leslie Odom's performance as a father committed to saving his daughter. Cameo appearances by Ellen Burnstyn and Linda Blair do not help the film in any way. I feel sad that actors Richard Burton, Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller and Lee J. Cobb are no longer with us. Rest in peace you immortal souls. Ned Beatty(1937-2021) who played the pilot in Exorcist 2 is also no longer with us. Ned's performance in the rare to find film T Bone N Weasel(1992) is superb. I was privileged to watch that film on cable in the late 90's.
P. S. If you have been reading this long, here's a treat for you. Raphael Sbarge who plays Pastor Don Revans in Believer has a good horror-science fiction film called The Hidden 2(1993 the sequel to the cult horror film The Hidden 1987). Watch this film if you haven't done already and thank me later. Thanks for reading this review and as Mister Spock always says, "Live long and prosper".
The concept of The Exorcist concerns an Assyrian demon called Pazuzu(considered the king of the demons of the wind, and the son of the god Hanbi). In Exorcist a small girl, Regan, becomes possessed by Pazuzu. The first two Exorcist films deal with the story of Regan and ordeals. The Exorcist: Believer(2023) was made to milk success from the works of Blatty. I feel this is an ill conceived project. An absolute joke of a movie.
Believer concerns two girls who become possessed by demonic entities. The whole movie is centered around them and Victor Fielding(Leslie Odom Jr.) whose daughter Angela(Lidya Jewett) is among the two possessed. The film is a straight-forward exorcism film, similar to Friedkin's but with a less talented ensemble of actors and cheap CGI effects.
Verdict: barely entertaining but sat through it because of Leslie Odom's performance as a father committed to saving his daughter. Cameo appearances by Ellen Burnstyn and Linda Blair do not help the film in any way. I feel sad that actors Richard Burton, Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller and Lee J. Cobb are no longer with us. Rest in peace you immortal souls. Ned Beatty(1937-2021) who played the pilot in Exorcist 2 is also no longer with us. Ned's performance in the rare to find film T Bone N Weasel(1992) is superb. I was privileged to watch that film on cable in the late 90's.
P. S. If you have been reading this long, here's a treat for you. Raphael Sbarge who plays Pastor Don Revans in Believer has a good horror-science fiction film called The Hidden 2(1993 the sequel to the cult horror film The Hidden 1987). Watch this film if you haven't done already and thank me later. Thanks for reading this review and as Mister Spock always says, "Live long and prosper".