The Exorcist: Believer, directed by David Gordon Green and released in 2023, was not well-received by critics, despite grossing $137 million at the box office. Following its poor reception, the planned trilogy was scrapped the following year, and the franchise was rebooted.
Plot Summary
The film follows Victor Fielding, a photographer who loses faith in God after his wife’s death during childbirth. Thirteen years later, Victor’s daughter Angela and her best friend Katherine become possessed after performing a séance in the woods. Victor, with the help of various religious figures and a memoir from Chris MacNeil (Regan’s mother from the original film), attempts an ecumenical exorcism to save the girls.
Comparison to the Original Film
It is challenging to discuss The Exorcist: Believer without comparing it to the original 1973 film, as the new film trades on the legacy of the classic. William Friedkin’s The Exorcist is widely regarded as a horror masterpiece, and this latest installment fails to capture the same level of innovation and terror.
Critics argue that the scares in The Exorcist: Believer are predictable and uninspired, and the dialogue is laden with preachy, uninteresting religious discourse. While the technical aspects of the film are passable, they are easily overshadowed by both the original Exorcist and the many exorcism films that have followed in its footsteps.
Reactions from the Original Director
William Friedkin, the director of the 1973 classic, expressed his disapproval of the new trilogy before his death. He made it clear that he did not believe these new films could live up to the original’s legacy, and it appears that he was correct.
Conclusion
The Exorcist: Believer is a disappointing addition to the Exorcist franchise. While it is not without its merits, it fails to capture the essence of the 1973 original and instead comes across as a lackluster sequel that trades on the legacy of a true classic.
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