Exorcist: Believer
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (1/2 out of 5)
On Boxing Day 1973 a little-advertised horror film titled The Exorcist was released with low expectations that it would do well at the box office. This unassuming horror became a smash-hit sensation with a continuous movie run of just over two years and is renowned for some of the most frightening scenes for a horror movie to grace movie screens and led to scores of movie-goers leaving the cinema early. Many were unable to watch what was unfolding, some feeling nausea, and stories of cinema toilets becoming blocked by the number of people throwing up in the bathroom. It has gone down in history as one of the most beloved horror films for horror movie fans and one of the most profitable. When news broke that a modern-day sequel would be released, many horror fans began to wonder if the new film could live up to the original hype carried in the name The Exorcist. 50 years on, director David Gordon Green has lent his creative skills to directing a new trilogy of Exorcist films and, as with the recent ‘Halloween’ series, has decided to continue the story from the 1973 original and ignore the sequels/prequels that have been made since.
The story focuses on single father Victor (played by Leslie Odom Jr. of ‘Hamilton’ fame) and his 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), whose mother died in tragic circumstances. Angela and her school friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) go missing when they venture into nearby woods and reappear three days later, much to the relief of the girls’ parents and police. However, it soon becomes apparent that something happened to the girls, and nurse Ann (Ann Dowd) who happens to be Victor’s neighbour and a former Catholic nun-in-training, recognises that the girls are victims of demonic possession. Ann helps connect Victor with Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) – the mother of daughter Regan, possessed 50 years ago, as portrayed in the first ‘Exorcist’ film.
She has now become a respected author and expert on demonic possession through her experiences and research. Catherine’s parents are members of the local Baptist church who enlist the aid of their pastor. At the same time, Victor’s friend Stu (Danny McCarthy), a Pentecostal preacher, also steps in to help and brings with him a doctor friend with Christian beliefs who also specialises in ritual healing practices taken from tribal customs of Africa. Ann also enlists the aid of Catholic priest Father Maddox (E.J. Bonilla), who has experience performing the rites of exorcism on behalf of the Church. Call this team the Spiritual Avengers if you like, as they come together in the climactic finale in an attempt as a united front to exorcise the demons that have possessed Angela and Katherine.
As supernatural horror films go, The Exorcist: Believer does hit the mark in some places. There are some gruesome and gory scenes as well as the obligatory jump-scare. Still, fans of the original Exorcist movie may be slightly disappointed that there isn’t anything new or shocking – at least not with the same impact as the 1973 film. This is probably because 50 years on, horror movie fans have become accustomed to what is portrayed on the screen in the realm of horror movies. Indeed, the depiction of demonic possession for Angela and Katherine in the 2023 version seems mild compared to those scenes in the original 1973 movie and respectfully does not try to copy or emulate the original. Nonetheless, the tension is gripping, especially in the final stages. There is a psychological element involved when the demons challenge each person present at the exorcism regarding their faith and whether they genuinely believe that they can defeat the Devil to win back the souls of Angela and Katherine. Fans of the original ‘Exorcist’ movie should still enjoy this modern-day sequel. They will also appreciate a cameo appearance, which helps tie this movie with the original. It will be interesting to see if the next instalment can improve upon the momentum set by this film.
REEL DIALOGUE: Do you have hope?
The sub-genre of supernatural horror films tends to be scarier than most horror films because there is an element of truth to what is being portrayed on screen. The characters and their story may be fiction. Still, in the case of the ‘Exorcist’ movies, the horrific events that occur and demonic possession have a distinct possibility that they can be real and not imaginary.
Anyone with a strong belief in God and His Son Jesus, and who accepts that they are real, must also acknowledge that the Devil is real and that there can be such things as demons and evil spirits in our world. In the film, Ann tells Victor that the primary goal of the Devil is to undermine people’s faith and make them live a life without hope. It’s a question that should make us think of our own situation: do we have hope in our life, and if so, what is our hope (or trust) placed in?
If you have a Christian friend, you can ask them this question and see what their response is – the Bible tells us that if we place our trust in Jesus, who died on the cross to save mankind, then we can have every confidence that nothing will overcome us.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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