Why make a new Exorcist movie in 2023, 50 years after the original film? For the studio, the answer is simple: This is a well-known brand that could be revitalized similarly to what was done with Halloween in recent years. But for David Gordon Green, the director behind both the Halloween revival and The Exorcist: Believer, the answer isn’t as clear after watching the movie.
On paper, this new Exorcist sequel should be intriguing. It was co-written by Green’s Halloween trilogy collaborator Danny McBride, star and creator of HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, of which nine episodes have been directed by Green. These are individuals you would expect to bring their own perspective to this subject matter. However, while The Righteous Gemstones satirizes evangelical Christian culture, Believer shows nothing but respect for all religious institutions. This is somewhat puzzling.
The Exorcist: Believer follows Victor (played with captivating stoicism by Leslie Odom Jr.) and his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett)–Angela’s mother died during an earthquake in Haiti and Angela still carries the weight of this tragedy. She takes her mom’s old earrings and, along with her friend Katherine, goes into the woods for a seance. It’s all lighthearted until the two girls mysteriously disappear for three days, only to reappear in a barn 30 miles away, completely changed and exhibiting creepy, demon-like behavior.
When conventional treatments fail, Victor and Katherine’s parents consider other options, including exorcism. Unlike the original Exorcist, this is not a Catholic-specific situation–Victor isn’t religious, Katherine’s family is evangelical, and there is also a Pentecostal-speaking-in-tongues individual and a pagan priestess involved. Additionally, Chris McNeil, the mother of the possessed Regan from the original movie, played by Ellen Burstyn, makes an appearance. Her scenes, while entertaining, feel somewhat unnecessary and added in at a later stage.
Green and his editor, horror veteran Timothy Alverson, effectively create a creepy atmosphere in Believer–the jump scares are effective and watching the movie, especially in a loud theater, is intense and enjoyable. However, the film lacks the same unsettling impact as the original and relies heavily on reusing familiar elements. Nevertheless, the ending is a notable improvement from the original.
In conclusion, The Exorcist: Believer is a solid new sequel that delivers genuine scares, but it falls short of being anything more than that.
