The Exorcism (2024)

I am a sucker for religious themed horror, although I have recently become overly frustrated by the constant rehashing of similar storylines and structures in many of the modern entries. So, I have for the most part stayed away from the genre. That changed yesterday when I saw this one streaming on Shudder. The 2024 entry, The Exorcism. 

Plot: A troubled actor begins to exhibit disruptive behavior while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he's slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at play.

This one started out fun and really a cool concept of remaking the classic The Exorcist. While that masterpiece can never be duplicated, the idea of an attempt was intriguing. Unfortunately, the movie went downhill from there. While some of the performances were good, the film felt disjointed and did nothing to expand the storyline. The cinematography was also good, but the editing left more than a few head scratching and unbelievable moments. Even some of the storyline made little sense and did not feel flushed out. In the end, this was a decent attempt and a cool idea. Unfortunately, it lacked a punch and fell flat. Stay away. 

The Exorcist III (1990)

With it being Thanksgiving, it was nice to be able to relax, and look forward to the future. Yes, there will be some rough times ahead; there is hope that change for the better could possibly happen. After taking a couple days away from the blog to work on a couple smaller projects, I decided to look into something relaxing yesterday to help pass the afternoon. The movie I decided on was something I had not seen in some time, the 1990 sequel, The Exorcist III.

Plot/ 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, lead him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.

I remember seeing this one in the theater and being blown away by the depth of the storyline and some of the creepiness that saturates the atmosphere. This movie is a perfect sequel to the classic Exorcist, much better than the first sequel released much earlier. More of a intelligent psychological thriller than pure horror movie, there is a lot to like in this one. The cast is amazing and the performances work extremely well in tandem, the scripting is solid (although, it does cause viewers to think more than with a typical horror movie), and the tension builds throughout the entirety of the movie allowing every aspect to sink in. Yes, there are some moments that deem to be added in for effect that feel out of place and the minimalist style may turn some people off, but those are elements that are easily overlooked when evaluating the movie as a whole. In the end, it was such a treat to dive into this film again, as it has stood the test of time rather well. While it is not for everyone, it is a must see for fans of psychological thrillers and the Exorcist. If you have not seen it yet, find it, and watch it!

Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

What is my favorite movie of all time? For some of you that answer should be easy; for other, maybe not. Yes, I do love no-budget horror and slashers, and yes, Jason Voorhees is one of my favorite characters, but my favorite movie is not one of those. Sure, some might find it cliché, but honestly, this is one movie that made a lasting impression on me in my youth. That movie is The Exorcist. Of course, there were other films in that series, and incredibly, I have ignored them on here. So, to start catching up on the franchise is Exorcist: The Beginning.

Plot/ Years before Father Lancaster Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil's soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa. This is the tale of Father Merrins’ initial battle with Pazuzu and the rediscovery of his faith.

In this prequel for the classic flick The Exorcist, there is a lot to like. However, this movie is often discounted and forgot. Sure, there is the controversy between this version and Dominion, but this is a decent movie. With the Exorcist being my favorite movie of all time, I love this back story and feel they created an atmospheric movie that had some solid effects, decent acting and detailed storyline. Sure, some of the scripting was off, there were some pacing issues and the ending felt a tad rushed, but it was still entertaining. In the end, this may not be the best prequel to ever come about, but it is better than many give it credit for. If you have not seen it, watch it. If you have seen it in the past, revisit it, this one may surprise you!