It is unimaginable to disclaim the influence of William Friedkin’s 1973 horror masterpiece, The Exorcist. The possession flick, starring Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, a mom making an attempt to save lots of her possessed daughter Regan (Linda Blair), redefined horror. The movie was a essential and business success and launched a franchise that included the follow-up Exorcist II: The Heretic, which didn’t meet its predecessor’s success, and The Exorcist III. The latter, an underrated horror traditional, is now out there to stream without cost on Tubi.
Earlier than Friedkin’s The Exorcist, horror was not held, artistically talking, within the highest regard. The Exorcist modified that notion. The function amassed essential acclaim, incomes 10 Academy Award nominations in 1974, together with nods for Greatest Image, Greatest Director for Friedkin, and Greatest Actress for Burstyn. Its Greatest Image nomination additionally made historical past; it grew to become the primary horror to be nominated for Greatest Image. Apart from incomes essential success, the supernatural function was a triumph on the field workplace and held the document for the highest-grossing horror image for many years.
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Mike Flanagan Says His Exorcist Sequel Is the ‘Scariest Film’ He is Ever Made
Judging by Mike Flanagan’s work, his Exorcist sequel is about to be a heart-pounder.
Sadly, the direct sequel to Friedkin’s The Exorcist missed the mark. Directed by John Boorman, Exorcist II: The Heretic was launched in 1977. The place Friedkin’s unique soared, the follow-up sunk. Critics and audiences discovered fault with the film’s complicated narrative, and, perhaps most importantly, Exorcist II: The Heretic simply did not ship scares. Its misses have been solely amplified by its predecessor’s success.
‘The Exorcist III’ Is a Worthy Sequel
In 1990, The Exorcist III landed in theaters. This installment, directed and written by William Peter Blatty, the creator of the unique novel and screenplay, is extensively thought-about the franchise’s second-best providing and a a lot better sequel. The Exorcist III properly echoed the supernatural tone and themes of Friedkin’s effort. Starring George C. Scott as Lieutenant Kinderman, Brad Dourif in a chilling efficiency because the Gemini Killer, and Jason Miller because the ailing Father Dyer, the movie was praised for its slow-burn rigidity, eerie ambiance, and suspense. It delivered real scares, together with the now-iconic hospital hallway scene. There are even arguments that the third installment is scarier than the unique film.
The Exorcist III picks up 15 years after the horrific occasions on the MacNeil house. Lieutenant Kinderman is investigating a sequence of murders in Georgetown that share an eerie resemblance to the crimes of the “Gemini Killer,” who was allegedly executed years earlier than. Because the investigation progresses, Kinderman’s pal, Father Dyer, will get sick, and Kinderman encounters a mysterious affected person within the hospital. The affected person claims to be the Gemini Killer and divulges connections to Regan MacNeil.
The place The Exorcist III principally disappoints critics and audiences is with its conclusion and its heavy dialogue. It needs to be famous that the conclusion of the theatrical reduce was modified by the studio towards Blatty’s needs.
Following The Exorcist III, the franchise delivered two prequels that explored the backstory of Father Lankester Merrin: Exorcist: The Starting (2004), directed by Renny Harlin, and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005), directed by Paul Schrader. Neither of the movies impressed audiences. In 2023, Blumhouse revisited the franchise with The Exorcist: Believer (2023), a direct sequel to the unique that was supposed as the primary in a brand new trilogy, however once more failed to attach with audiences, resulting in the following movie being utterly reworked by Mike Flanagan.
The Exorcist III‘s theatrical reduce is offered to stream on Tubi.