The Exorcist III (1990)

A police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.

Director:

William Peter Blatty

Writers:

William Peter Blatty (screenplay), William Peter Blatty (novel)

Stars:

George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Brad Dourif

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George C. Scott	...	Kinderman
Ed Flanders	...	Father Dyer
Brad Dourif	...	The Gemini Killer
Jason Miller	...	Patient X
Nicol Williamson	...	Father Morning
Scott Wilson	...	Dr. Temple
Nancy Fish	...	Nurse Allerton
George DiCenzo	...	Stedman (as George Dicenzo)
Don Gordon	...	Ryan
Lee Richardson	...	University President
Grand L. Bush	...	Sergeant Atkins
Mary Jackson	...	Mrs. Clelia
Viveca Lindfors	...	Nurse X
Ken Lerner	...	Dr. Freedman
Tracy Thorne	...	Nurse Keating

Storyline

Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer cheer each other up on the anniversary of the death of their mutual friend, Father Damien Karras, by going to see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the local theater in Georgetown, near Washington D.C. But there's no cheering Kinderman while a particularly cruel and gruesome serial killer is at large. His murders, which involve torture, decapitation and the desecration of religious icons, is bad enough; but they also resemble those of the Gemini Killer, who has been dead for fifteen years.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | psychopathic killer | lucifer morningstar character | larry king character | investigation | 

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Taglines:

Dare you walk these steps again?

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Exorcist III: Legion

Filming Locations:

Georgetown University, Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$26,098,824

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,925,427

Company Credits

Production Co:

Morgan Creek Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 105 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

George C. Scott said of the film, "It's a horror film and much more... It's a real drama, intricately crafted, with offbeat interesting characters...and that's what makes it genuinely frightening.

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Goofs

The buildings depicted as being Georgetown University Hospital in the film occupy a block near the school's main campus. They actually housed the hospital from 1898 to 1930. However, after that, the hospital moved to a much larger campus a few blocks northwest. At the time of filming, the old hospital complex housed a variety of non-medical activities, and its internal geography bore no relation to the interiors depicted in the film. The hospital room where Kinderman views the blood vials is located, judging from its view, where a student apartment was in real life. The corridor outside the room would have run through a wall into an adjoining classroom building. The interior decor of the hospital is based on Georgetown's student center, which represented the hospital in some location shots.

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Quotes

Patient X: Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those who think'st thou dost overthrow die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

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Connections

Featured in Death, Be Not Proud: Music for a Padded Cell (2016)

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Soundtracks

Gloria
Liturgical Chant
Performed by Burleigh Seaver

User Reviews

Words can't explain

Funny how unorthodox arrangement and scenarios incite unspeakably talented film-making. I can't think of another movie which has an author adapting his own novel into a screenplay AND directing a movie. The exorcist III is by far the best horror/thriller of all time and I don't see it being topped at anytime. It is so much better than the first, the sole reason why they decided to add footage to the original containing elements from the third installment. IF the original exorcist WERE better than the exorcist III, why would they edit the original using the very same elements used in the Third? I can't explain that, but some believe it. I believe many have not seen the Exorcist III, and even after watching it they simply do not understand it to be frightened by it. The exorcist III combines true character development with crime drama, horror, and suspense, utterly perfect movie making. Jtown