Exorcist: The Beginning
Director Renny Harlin traces the roots of evil in this prequel to the box office smash of the 1970s. Sent to Africa at the close of World War II to tend to the needs of the local community, Father Lankester Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard) gets more than he ever bargained for when he has his first brush with a devilish force known simply as Pazuzu.
Member Reviews
The better of the two prequels - Coconut_Willy
From the other reviewers, I gather not many people enjoyed this one. I did. I thought the storyline was pretty consistent with what one would expect from a prequel when put in the context of the opening scenes of the original Exorcist. Although the two prequels (this one and Dominion) have a lot in common, I thought this one had a better story development. It is less linear with Merrin having flashbacks from the war. It is also less predictable with a few twists along the way. Finally, it has quite a bit more horror than the other which, for me, is always a good thing. The cast is good enough doing a fine acting job with a fair dialogue and nice characters. I thought that both the doctor and the priest were better in this one than in Dominion. The sets and locations are good, the soundtrack is appropriate and the camera work is good. Obviously, this is not a movie that will have an important place in film-making history but it is an entertaining horror film.I agree, this movie was shortchanged in the reviews - fotoguy
The most unfortunate thing that this movie had against it was the inevitable comparison to the original Exorcist. The sounds that envelop you, the feeling of despair, the tension, and just the general grainy "murkiness" feel will forever set the original on a pedastal. Even if you copied the exact formula for the original, it would still just be a copy.
As for negatives, well yes.. the digital hyenas definately looked digital, and the yellow contact lenses on the "demon" looked as if they were stolen right from the werewolf in Michael Jackson`s "Thriller" video. The original movie was scarier in part because the special effects were "real" and tangible. Most CGI scenes in movies still look like video games, and I think that detracts from believability. There were spooky scenes, but I think that maybe technology is partly at fault. Old shocker films like the original Exorcist and the original Texas Chainsaw massacre seem scarier to me because of the "feel" of the equipment used to film them. The texture if the video just seems grittier and darker, whereas newer films have that high-gloss feel of a fashion magazine. Maybe I`m just picky. To see what I mean, rent the latest Criterion release of "Videodrome" and watch the short bonus film (called Camera I think). It starts off with an actor being filmed on a digital camera, then shifts to older equipment. You can definately feel the change in the atmosphere.
On the positive side, the movie was well acted, and Skarsgard was very believable as Father Merrin. Maybe I`m just growing up, but I find it very refreshing when real actors (rather than really attractive actors) are cast in films. Don`t get me wrong, I likes the beach bunnies.. but not when I`m watching what should be a serious movie.
If you`re in the mood to watch a decent horror movie, you will enjoy this one.Somewhat scary? - Shelly
Given the fact that the Exorcist was such a great movie I found that this prequel simply failed in comparison. More blood and gore than necessary and not enough creepy (scary) scenes. Friday the 13th is supposed to be about gore; not the Exorcist. The Exorcist is supposed to be about scaring the "you know what" out of you and this movie did not deliver on this count.
Member Reviews
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The better of the two prequels - Coconut_Willy
From the other reviewers, I gather not many people enjoyed this one. I did. I thought the storyline was pretty consistent with what one would expect from a prequel when put in the context of the opening scenes of the original Exorcist. Although the two prequels ...I agree, this movie was shortchanged in the reviews - fotoguy
The most unfortunate thing that this movie had against it was the inevitable comparison to the original Exorcist. The sounds that envelop you, the feeling of despair, the tension, and just the general grainy "murkiness" feel will forever set the original ...Somewhat scary? - Shelly
Given the fact that the Exorcist was such a great movie I found that this prequel simply failed in comparison. More blood and gore than necessary and not enough creepy (scary) scenes. Friday the 13th is supposed to be about gore; not the Exorcist. The Exorcist ...