THE EXORCIST BELIEVER – The Classic Horror Franchise Returns!

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER is directed by David Gordon Green. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Lidya Jewett, and Olivia Marcum. This film is the first in a trilogy of new EXORCIST sequels directed by Green; these films serve as direct sequels to the original film and ignore all other sequels.

When two young girls go missing and are found, they begin to exhibit strange self-destructive behavior. Believing it to be a form of demonic possession, the families of the girls turn to Chris MacNeil, the retired actress who once had a daughter who required an exorcism. But will the families be able to get the support they need and perform the rites that’ll save their girls?

1973’s THE EXORCIST, directed by William Friedkin and based on the book by William Peter Blatty, is one of the greatest horror films ever made, with some of cinema’s most iconic scenes and moments. It’s no surprise there have been many attempts to further this fictional universe, including sequels, prequels, TV shows, and more. However none of this has come close to recapturing the cultural phenomenon that the original movie was. David Gordon Green is fresh off the heels of directing a trilogy of HALLOWEEN sequels, and THE EXORCIST is the next franchise he’s set his sights on.

So how does the first installment in Green’s THE EXORCIST sequel trilogy, BELIEVER, measure up?

Put simply, the movie is probably as good of an EXORCIST sequel as we could’ve asked for. There are moments of genuine terror, and the young ladies playing these demonically-possessed tweens do a surprisingly good job. Unfortunately, the movie also fails to create any truly iconic scenes or memorable characters in the long run. It won’t stand the test of time the way Friedkin’s 1973 masterpiece does.

I will give the movie credit for effort, however. We do get two very different families of the girls who wind up demonically possessed; a churchgoing one which allows their daughter more freedom, and a more sheltered single dad who lost his wife and never quite got over it. The juxtaposition at least makes for some somewhat interesting dynamics, and a few of the side characters thrown in, including an ex-nun turned nurse, do at least partially put a spin on THE EXORCIST formula.

I’ll also give the movie credit for a few shocking moments. The young girls who go from sweet everyday schoolgirls to those being possessed and menacing those around them, are quite convincing in both roles. The effects in the movie manage to look mostly practical and quite convincing, so I’m pleased to report BELIEVER never feels like the CGI fest it could’ve been.

Of course, no review for this film would be complete without mentioning the return of Ellen Burstyn to the role of Chris MacNeil from the original 1973 EXORCIST. She doesn’t enter the movie until about halfway through, and I am pleased to report she’s in the movie just the right amount. Her presence never overwhelms the main story or takes away from it, so it’s good to see her being in the film doesn’t just feel like a gimmick, even if there is more that could potentially have done with her. It’ll be interesting to see if she returns for the subsequent Green-directed films.

Sadly, the movie never quite lives up to its potential. With all its characters and plot elements, it fails to create any truly memorable or compelling persons, something Friedkin’s 1973 film did with a vengeance. It feels like all the pieces are in place for a decent EXORCIST sequel, but ultimately it ends up feeling like a rehash of the original without enough ideas of its own. The climax, while visually stimulating and scary, feels like it could’ve been in a million other movies, including the original EXORCIST.

BELIEVER didn’t make a believer out of me. It’s certainly not a bad film, but not a great one either, or even the best EXORCIST sequel. It’ll make a worthwhile rental/streaming title when it hits home formats, but don’t rush to the theater.