Who will Survive THE EXORCISM

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from writer/director Joshua John Miller, writer M.A. Fortin and Vertical is a man in crisis with THE EXORCISM.

Actor Tony Miller (Russell Crowe) has spent the last few years dealing with addiction issues and family problems. Daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins) has arrived home due to being expelled from school and it is clear that father and daughter have deep seeded issues. Trying to get along, Lee offers to help Tony learn the lines for a new horror film he has been cast in and he brings her on as his production assistant.

On the set, Lee meets Blake (Chloe Bailey) who is a music star also in the film and they strike up a friendship. Ready to being is the director, Peter (Adam Goldberg), who speaks his mind and pushes Tony to perform using his disturbing past with the church and his family life as a motivator. Father Conor (David Hyde Pierce) is the religious advisor on the set to share what he knows about exorcisms.

Lee notices right away that something is happening with her father. Tony is acting strangely and the young girl believes he is reverting to old behaviors. That is until she begins seeing things that cannot possibly be true. Asking for help from Father Conor, they both come to realize that the only way to save Tony is but confronting the evil that is plaguing him.

Crowe as Miller is no stranger to the mysteries of the spiritual world. In 2023, he took on the role of Father Gabriel Amorth in the film THE POPE’S EXORCIST so in this film he takes on the challenge of a non-religious dealing with demons. Haunted not only by his childhood but the bad way Tony handled his homelife and relationship with his young daughter, it was enough to give the demons an in and Crowe goes along for the ride pretty well. It is a solid performance as he portrays this tortured soul.

Simpkins as daughter Lee is a 16-year-old who plays right into the stereotypical on-screen teenager who has a bad attitude, uses her words to bite and things her rebellion is original. Watching Tony go through changes, Simpkins character starts to believe that it is not his past addictions that are plaguing him. That’s when she changes herself which can make all the difference.

Pierce as Father Conor is on set to give his impressions of Tony’s portrayal of a priest but finds himself befriending Lee. As time goes along, Pierces’ character also sees what Tony’s daughter has been saying about her father. That is when he knows what must be done. Pierce gives a quiet performance at the beginning but definetly shows what his character is made of.

Shout out to Goldberg who plays the director of the film. Honestly, this character is hideous, mean spirited and I wanted to smack the garbage out of his mouth but then again, it got the job done beautifully.

Other cast includes Sam Worthington as Joe, Tracey Bonner as Regina, Marcenae Lynette as Monica, Hallie Samuels as Hayley, Joshua Miller and FX Guy, Anna Reyer as Hair Stylist, Samantha Mathis as Jennifer.

Vertical Entertainment is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. They have won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress for Molly Shannon’s role in OTHER PEOPLE and the film won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film Limited Release, Best International Film for Babak Anvari’s UNDER THE SHADOW, a BAFTA and three Independent British Independent Film Awards as well. For more go to www.vert-ent.com.

Director Miller is actually the son of the actor Jason Miller who originally played Father Karras in the 1973 blockbuster, and frightening film of the time, THE EXORCIST. Hearing the stories told by his father are of how there were injuries on that set, mysterious happenings and the haunted feelings. Along with co-writer Fortin, the idea was to update the genre formula of man vs. possession. “We were gifted with an extraordinary cast and creative team to tell a story about how we’re all vulnerable to darkness, to perpetuating it, if we fail to face our demons,” says Miller.

Crowe says of his role in the film, “For me, as an actor to play a man who has had these life experiences, carries these things, was quite complicated. It was a very challenging idea as a role, so it got my interest. On playing the role of father, he says, “[my character] wants to take that position of father but realizes that he has work to do to rebuild trust with his daughter. However, she’s quite closed off so it’s a difficult situation for them both.”

The film peels back slowly to get to the heart of the matter with the final explosive scenes that is worthy of using the gasps of “WHOA!”. Grabbing onto the idea of the 1973 film, director Miller and the cast bring about the shakes and shivers one would expect of a film that brings a demon into play. Keeping the film dimly lit, loaded with grey colors and shadowy spooks and frights, THE EXORCISM falls in line with the rest of this genre of films.

Turn the lights out and have an arm to hold onto to prepare for THE EXORCISM.

In the end – unmask the devil and the devil will retaliate!

 

John Boorman’s Film of EXORCIST II: The Heretic Returns on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from director John Boorman and Scream Factory is the next chapter in a young girl’s life of danger with 1977 film EXORCIST II: The Heretic

Living with guardian Sharon (Kitty Winn), grown Regan (Linda Blair) works with Dr. Gene Tuskin (Louise Fletcher) to help children who are plagued by sleep disorders and memories they keep hidden. Regan understands what the kids are going through because of the event in her life four years earlier.

Father Lamont (Richard Burton) receives his next order from the Cardinal (Paul Henreid) to find out what really happened to the beloved Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) that same night four years ago. It was during the exorcism of Regan that he died but that is all they know.

Father Lamont isn’t happy about the assignment knowing he is only asked because of his previous exposure to Merrin’s teachings. Dealing with a failed exorcism in South America, he goes into his assignment with less than holy feelings.

With the help of equipment developed by Dr. Tuskin, Regan and the doctor can sync up their memories. In a session, the demon Pazuzu who took over the young girls body four years ago, seems to still be around and wants Regan once again. Father Lamont tries to question Regan but the good doctor isn’t about to let that happen. Sharon takes the Father to the house in Georgetown where it all took place but feels that using the device with Regan is the only way.

That’s when he sees a boy named Kokumo and a swarm of locusts fighting Pazuzu and realizes he must go to Africa and find the boy who is now a man. Learning things he didn’t know before from the grown Kokumo (James Earl Jones), its back to Regan and the house in Georgetown where once again a battle between good and evil must happen if they are all to be saved.

Blair as Regan returns as the lovely young woman Regan who struggles with the memory of what happened in her mother’s house four years earlier. Tackling the first film at a young age was an incredible feat for this actress and taking up the mantle of Regan again can only be done by Blair. Seeing the storyline all the way through she shares the screen with Fletcher, Sydow and Burton and that doesn’t look bad on a resume.

Fletcher as Tuskin is a strong influence on Regan and only wants what is best for her. Protecting her is one thing but finally reaching what is inside of the young girl is something she could never have imagined. I believe Fletcher is one of our finest actors and I will watch and have watched everything she has performed in. Good, bad and in between, Fletcher has played her roles strongly.

Jones as Kukomo is a very young actor in this film and I’d know that voice anywhere even then. In this role he goes from a young man taking on a demon to a scientist who wants to forget it. Henreid as the Cardinal makes his final film appearance as a part of the church that wants to know exactly what happened to the priests who died at the hands of a demon. Winn returns as guardian Sharon and makes it her purpose to make sure Regan is looked after.

Two iconic actors share the screen in this film. Burton as Father Lamont has a history with Father Merrin having spent time with him as a younger priest. Dealing with his own failure at an exorcism, he is reluctant to deal with Regan. Max von Sydow – what an amazing iconic actor who returns to the film to give us more of the story behind the priest and his teachings.

Other cast include Joey Green as young Kokumo, Ned Beatty as Edwards, Belinda Beatty as Liz, Barbara Cason as Mrs. Phalor, Ken Renard as Abbott, Dana Plato as Sandra and Karen Knapp as the voice of Pazuzu.

SHOUT! Factory has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty And The Beast. Also their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT Factor has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

The 2-disc Bluray includes the Special Features of Two Cuts of the Film, 117-Minute and 201 Minute Versions, New 2K Scan of Both Cuts from the Original Film Elements, New Audio Commentary with Director John Boorman (Longer Cut), New Interview with Actress Linda Blair, New Audio Commentary with Special Project Consultant Scott Michael Bosco, Teaser and Theatrical Trailers and Still Galleries.

William Goodhard took on the screenplay and used the works of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin for the storyline. Director Boorman found the new direction of the film quite different than the first film. It was the director who convinced Max von Sydow to return as Father Merrin and Kitty Winn to return as Sharon.

EXORCIST II: The Heretic has its own set of frights and scares that may not be as shocking as the first film but equally as engrossing. I might be playing favorites a bit since Burton, Blair, Fletcher, von Sydow and Jones happen to be on my list of actors I think made an impact on films. 

We are getting closer and closer to the season of spooky time and scary movies are high on the list of things to stack up for at my house. After scaring the neighbor kids and handing out candy – its time to shut off the lights and hunker down for a night of lights out frights.

EXORCIST II: The Heretic brings all that and more. I personally suggest watching the original and the new Bluray release back to back because that is four hours of spine tingles well worth every tingle!

If you would like the chance to win a copy for your own home entertainment library, please visit http://moviemaven.homestead.com to find out how.

In the end – four years later and what does she remember?