Words by Bill Urrutia
“What an excellent day for an exorcism,” is one of the famous lines from "The Exorcist" (1973), the first film from the franchise that put exorcism in a prominent space in the horror film genre. The next few decades will also prove to be an excellent time for an exorcism, as the franchise released films in 1977, 1990, 2004, 2005, and now 2023 with "The Exorcist: Believer" — 50 years after the original first frightened audiences worldwide.
Directed by David Gordon Green, "The Exorcist: Believer" features Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr., industry veteran Ann Dowd, Ethiopian-born actress Olivia Jewett, Olivia Marcum, and Ellen Burstyn, reprising her role from the original 1973 film.
Western horror films have, undoubtedly, evolved over the past five years—from heavily relying on ominous music, anxiety-inducing framing, and the not-so-occasional jump scares, to exploring the vast spectrum of the art of horror. Notable ones are "A Quiet Place" (2018), which used only 25 speaking lines for the entire movie; "Midsommar" (2019), which defined modern cult horror; "The Invisible Man" (2020), which married sociopolitics and horror; and "Nope" (2022), where viewers were made to question who they are terrified of.
In "The Exorcist: Believer," the focus is on the stories, the culture, and the context of characters surrounding the centuries-old religious activity. How could one even entertain the idea of exorcism if they do not believe in God? Who does one turn to if religious saviors cease to rise to the occasion? The richness of the story relied on the characters who came together and ideated solutions—both conventional and contemporary. The characters’ different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, now a proven staple in current films, added flavor to the story. It emphasizes that demonic possessions and rituals existed beyond the West, grasping to comprehend and solve what science cannot.
While the film is undeniably a thought-provoking exploration of stories, beliefs, and cultural acceptance, it does stumble when it comes to delivering the expected level of terror. Perhaps it is the shadow cast by its predecessors, especially the iconic original film, that makes it challenging to match the same level of dread and horror.
Ultimately, the film reminds us that horror films are more than just cheap frills and fright. It can be an avenue to understand complex human themes and social dilemmas, even as it leaves us contemplating how it compares to the original and recent horror films. Nevertheless, the fresh take, the new director for the franchise, and the superb acting leave room for its viewers to adopt a lens of optimism for the next two films to come.
Given its cultural variation, superb acting, and literal head-turning scenes, we give "The Exorcist: Believer" a 3 out of 5.
The Exorcist: Believer is currently screening in theaters in the Philippines. The film is distributed by Universal Pictures International.