The Exorcist
Since the death of his wife 12 years ago, Victor Fielding has raised their daughter, Angela on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil.
- Released: 2023-10-11
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Genre: Horror, Thrillers
- Stars: Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Ann Dowd, Lidya Jewett, Raphael Sbarge, Jennifer Nettles, Okwui Okpokwasili, Linda Boston, E.J. Bonilla, Linda Blair, Norah Murphy
- Director: David Gordon Green
Comments
- athanasiosze - 22 June 2024
7.2/10. This is underrated.
Why these reviews and ratings? What am i missing? What did you expect to watch? EXORCIST is a religious franchise, to be more precise, a Christian franchise. If you are an atheist with strong opinions or you dislike Christianity, you shouldn't watch it. This movie won't touch you if you don't believe in its theme.
To be honest, i was not much invested during the first half. This was kinda weird. It tried to be original and i can't say it was a success. Leading actor (Leslie Odom Jr.) was good but acting in general was mediocre. And it didn't hold a candle to EXORCIST 1 or 3.
However, the ending was so strong that i almost tear up. The last 40 minutes were great. David Gordon Green made a bold choice : Instead of being scary, this movie became emotional. If you wanted to watch a movie which'll bring you nightmares, this is not it. But i cannot not admire the creativity and the boldness here. During these 40 minutes, acting performances were so much better. I empathized with all those characters, even the ones who were not "ethical". I could even say this is a movie that glorifies Humanity. This is not a movie which wants to make you feel sad and depressed and frustrated, like most of Holywood movies recently. This is a movie that brings you courage. Not weird Holywood messages. But "CARRY ON AND MAKE IT THROUGH".
If you are a religious person regardless of what religion or a moderate atheist who wants to watch something positive and motivional, i think you'll like it.
In any case, this made 137.000.000 dollars with a 30.000.000 budget. This is a hit, a success. Like it or not. - henry8-3 - 2 June 2024
The Exorcist: Believer
A sequel of sorts to 'The Exorcist', 2 young school girls wander off into the woods and are found 3 days later with severe cuts and bruises and no knowledge of what has happened. The behaviour of the girls deteriorates and the father of one of the girls goes in search of now famous author on possession, Chris MacNeill, played by Ellyn Burstyn from the original. Together with a priest, a spiritualist and others they decide exorcism is the only option.
After a fairly well crafted and suspenseful first forty minutes looking for the girls, trying to pin down what happened and arguing the various pros and cons of Catholicism, this kicks off. It's a shame in some ways that it does as it flows into very predictable territory with gravelly voices, harsh language and lots of goo, but without managing to create the unease and fear the original brought. Nothing really unexpected occurs even if it is professionally enough done. Burstyn being there is a hideous, apparently well paid gimmick which adds precious little to the plot and whilst I enjoyed watching the acting of the always excellent Ann Dowd, it ultimately left me with a feeling of so what. - Neill4797 - 11 May 2024
A Lacklustre Legacy Sequel
Initially, The Exorcist: Believer shows some promise. The first act, reminiscent of Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners, takes us on a journey where two young girls vanish in the woods. This segment of the film is somewhat engaging.
However, the film's second half is a stark departure from its promising start. It swiftly descends into a lacklustre, uninspired legacy sequel that merely rehashes the original film's plot. This sudden shift is a huge letdown, as the movie becomes more interested in jump scares and frantic editing than in creating a sense of dread or unease.
While Leslie Odem Jr. Shines as an exemplary screen presence, the cast around him fails to match his calibre. Ann Dowd, in particular, feels tonally out of place, making it hard to take her character seriously.
Unfortunately, Ellen Burstyn's return to the series, for the first time since the 1973 original, is a significant disappointment. Her portrayal of Chris MacNeil, lacking her usual screen presence, is further hindered by the subpar material she's given. Some of her scenes unintentionally shift into comedy, disrupting the movie's intended tone.
The third act, which centres around an exorcism, disappointingly fails to evoke any sense of fear or excitement. Instead, the rag-tag group of characters that attempt the exorcism inadvertantly elicit laughter. It is filled with forced callbacks and references to the original, contributing to the lack of suspense and thrills. The film ends with a reunion between Chris and Regan, played by Linda Blair, which is meant to be a hugely emotional moment. Instead, it feels forced and contrived.
