The Exorcist: Believer marks the newest installment within the long-running Exorcist franchise, for higher or worse. With David Gordon Inexperienced on the helm, I rushed to the theater wanting to witness a brand new spin on a traditional story. And, properly, um … yeah.
The place does Believer rank within the Exorcist collection? I’m glad you requested as a result of I’ve conjured an inventory of all six Exorcist motion pictures ranked from worst to greatest. Primary is stunning.
6) Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Exorcist II: The Heretic is a catastrophic misfire that perplexes greater than terrifies. To his credit score, director John Boorman (taking the reins from William Friedkin) realizes he’s in a lose/lose state of affairs. He tries to infuse the franchise with a unique appear and feel, leaning extra on surreal and pseudo-intellectualism reasonably than taut storytelling. It’s all fallacious.
Furthermore, the particular results are laughably unhealthy, the performances are flat, and the movie’s makes an attempt to delve into themes of psychology and spirituality really feel heavy-handed and pretentious. Linda Blair returns however has little to work with, whereas Richard Burton’s inclusion within the forged does nothing to raise the movie. Few sequels are as disappointing as Exorcist II, which is why it’s on the backside of our listing of Exorcist motion pictures ranked from worst to greatest.
5) Exorcist: The Starting (2004)
The behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Exorcist: The Starting is much extra fascinating than the ultimate product. Director Renny Harlin was introduced on board to transform Paul Schrader’s Exorcist prequel and ended up refilming the complete image. The outcomes are lackluster and uninspired, a cynical try and money in on the great title of The Exorcist.
Too unhealthy. I like Stellan Skarsgård, however the actor struggles to evoke the identical sense of gravitas and emotion that Max von Sydow dropped at the unique. Extra evident is the disjointed plot that falls again on clichés and fails to supply any actual perception or depth into the themes of excellent vs. evil. Keep away from it just like the plague.
4) The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
No Exorcist sequel has absolutely justified its existence, and that theme holds true for David Gordon Inexperienced’s Exorcist: Consider. On the plus facet, the movie appears to be like nice. Inexperienced captures the appear and feel of William Friedkin, the eerie environment, and the creepy, unsettling shadows draped throughout the suburban panorama.
And that’s about it. Believer is a shameless money seize that depends far an excessive amount of on heavy-handed nostalgia and doesn’t do something contemporary with its oft-told premise. Why does Hollywood hold doing this? Why not strive one thing daring and audacious? Take a swing with the property and provides the viewers a singular expertise— as The Exorcist did in 1973.
Believer looks like a holdover of the “requel” period, the place trendy filmmakers rebooted common franchises by way of a sequel that mainly remakes the unique. It was enjoyable for some time, however we’re on the sixth Exorcist movie, individuals! One thing’s gotta change.
Anyhow, Believer isn’t all unhealthy, simply extremely dumb. The very best bits happen early on when two younger women go lacking. Their dad and mom search by way of the woods, and their panic intensifies as they come upon backpacks and different gadgets littered everywhere in the floor. Leslie Odom Jr. is great in these sequences, quietly observing the precarious state of affairs. At this level, I questioned why this story needed to join with The Exorcist. Why not make a movie about two women who get misplaced within the woods and by some means carry house a demon?
Ultimately, the children return however are seemingly unaware something occurred. Once more, these efficient early scenes can be even higher if this weren’t one other Exorcist movie. Alas, we all know precisely the place it’s all headed. Sadly, when the precise exorcist lastly begins, it’s largely outdated hat. We’ve seen all of it earlier than — the foul-mouthed children, the screaming, countless shouting, and creepy spiritual symbolism. None of it shocks us as a result of we’ve seen it numerous occasions in higher movies. By the point Ellen Burstyn casually strolls onto the display screen with a stage of enthusiasm that rivals a sedated sloth, you’ll fortunately embark on a 3rd pilgrimage to the concessions counter, desperately looking for extra methods to increase your love handles additional.
Then there’s the ending, throughout which a bunch of individuals from varied religions collect Avengers-style to carry out the climactic exorcism in what needs to be probably the most weird instance of inclusivity thus far. Inexperienced tries his darndest to make all of it scary, using grotesque results, CGI, and dimly lit pictures advert nauseam, however no quantity of polish could make a turd look fairly.
Total, I’d rank Believer above Exorcist II and The Starting as a result of it no less than appears to be like like a accomplished movie. Nonetheless, at this juncture, let’s discover higher tales to inform.
3) Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist (2005)
Higher than Exorcist: The Starting — regardless that it’s primarily the identical image — Paul Schrader’s prequel makes an attempt to make clear the origins of the Exorcist story and Father Merrin (Skarsgård) with combined outcomes. Whereas the fabric is thematically wealthy, the image strikes at a glacier tempo, specializing in quiet conversations and complicated psychology over simple soar scares.
Schrader eschews the chilling environment of The Exorcist to create a way of isolation and foreboding and strives for one thing deeper and extra thought-provoking by specializing in the inside conflicts of its characters. As such, viewers anticipating the kind of horror seen within the authentic movie will stroll away disillusioned. Then again, those that go into Dominion with an open thoughts will uncover a largely compelling story about spirituality and religion — simply look previous the tacky, made-for-TV graphics ensuing from a rushed post-production.
2) The Exorcist III (1990)
Shockingly, Exorcist III is … truly fairly good. Whereas I’d be hard-pressed to rank the third chapter anyplace close to the unique, I wholeheartedly suggest it as a satisfying continuation of the story, significantly relating to its dealing with of poor, downtrodden Father Karras (Jason Miller).
Exorcist III breaks from the established norm to comply with Lieutenant William Kinderman (George C. Scott) as he makes an attempt to unravel a collection of grotesque, religious-themed murders linked to a deceased serial killer (performed by horror icon Brad Douriff). As Kinderman delves deeper into the case, he turns into more and more satisfied that the crimes contain a well-known evil drive, probably even the return of the demon Pazuzu.
It additionally earns excessive marks for its fascinating exploration of excellent vs. evil, religion, and the results of previous actions. George C. Scott delivers a quiet, nuanced efficiency that grounds the outlandish proceedings, whereas director William Peter Blatty levels a number of spectacular set items and soar scares, notably a creepy finale chock full of untamed imagery.
It might not surpass the unique Exorcist, however this third chapter is a charming and considerate entry into the franchise. In case you’re a fan of psychological horror, Exorcist III delivers all you could possibly ask for and stays a satisfying and chilling expertise.
1) The Exorcist (1973)
Clearly, I used to be being sarcastic once I claimed that primary on this listing can be stunning. No movie about exorcism might high William Friedkin’s traditional authentic. With its chilling environment, distinctive performances, and masterfully crafted storyline, this movie stays a benchmark for all supernatural horror motion pictures. The performances from all concerned, particularly Linda Blair as Regan, are astonishingly lifelike, and the portrayal of a younger woman’s possession and the following exorcism is nothing in need of spine-tingling.
Even by modern-day requirements, The Exorcist is stunning; it will get beneath your pores and skin and wiggles round, creating a sense of discomfort and dread. I might go on and on, however you’ve heard this numerous occasions earlier than. The Exorcist is a horror traditional able to horrifying even probably the most desensitized viewers members. Be warned: you’ll always remember the expertise when you’ve seen it, which is why it tops our listing of Exorcist motion pictures ranked from worst to greatest.
