disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER -- A Requel That Doesn’t Need the Support

10/4/2023

0 Comments

 
Review by Adam Donato
Picture
(from left) Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine (Olivia Marcum) in The Exorcist: Believer, directed by David Gordon Green.
A trend with horror lately has been comedians tackling the genre. David Gordon Green is one of the most notable examples of this with his take on the Halloween franchise. Universal and Blumhouse reward him with a second horror trilogy based on an iconic horror movie with terrible sequels. The first Halloween requel was a hit, but the sequels fared worse both critically and at the box office. Will David Gordon Green learn from that experience with The Exorcist trilogy? The bar seems lower this time, as The Exorcist sequels aren’t as popular as the Halloween sequels. Not to mention, it’s been almost twenty years since the latest movie in the franchise. Should you believe in The Exorcist: Believer?

For the most part, this requel really works. The weakest elements of the movie are when they reference the original. Ellen Burstyn is GOATed, but unnecessary in this movie. With a run time of a minute over two hours, cutting her would probably knock off fifteen minutes. The original had a similar run time, but this over-reliance on flexing the brand is the biggest weight on this story. This is not detrimental, as the main story is very compelling and is carried by Leslie Odom Jr. It’s full of moral conundrums and tragic fates. Like the Halloween franchise, it’s nice to see a director try to have some themes in their blockbuster horror movie. 

David Gordon Green feels like he’s matured with The Exorcist: Believer. It’s arguably just as funny as any of the Halloween movies, but it’s much more reserved here. The themes are already far more concise with the first Exorcist movie. It’s a movie about faith — a man who has lost his faith and a family that misuses theirs. The original aspects of this movie are where it truly shines, so Gordon Green deserves massive credit. That being said, the necessary trappings of an Exorcist film are fully delivered. 
Picture
(from left) Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) and Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) in The Exorcist: Believer, directed by David Gordon Green.
In fact, they're doubled. That’s right, two girls need to be exorcised this time. Both are creepy as all hell, with terrifying performances from Olivia O’Neill and Lidya Jewett. Ann Dowd does a lot with significant screen time here, specifically the monologue she gets. Jennifer Nettles is put through the emotional wringer as much as anyone. While the rest of the cast was good, Leslie Odom Jr. Is such a compelling lead and likable character overall. DGG’s Halloween movies always had a main character problem, but it’s clear that won’t be a problem here. He had a character arc and everything. If there is going to be an Exorcist legacy sequel, the franchise is in good hands going forward. 

It’s nice when a horror film is able to accomplish hitting the emotional beats as well as the horror beats. The Exorcist: Believer will have two sequels, unless it totally bombs. Saw X received positive reviews last week, It Lives Inside is a box office dud, and The Nun II is too far removed. Other than that, it won’t have to compete in the horror department until Five Nights at Freddy’s at the end of the month. It's a quality horror film all around, so be sure to check The Exorcist: Believer out in theaters. 

The Exorcist: Believer hits theaters on October 6.

Rating: 4/5
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About