“The Exorcist” is still widely considered to be one of the finest horror films ever made. At the time it was released, it had a massive impact on the cinema industry and left an impact on many viewers who passed out or walked out because of what they saw. Being the financial success that it was, it was no surprise that in 1977, a sequel, “Exorcist II: The Heretic,” was released. While Linda Blair and Max Von Sydow (“The Command”) reprised their roles from the previous installment, the film was a critical and commercial disaster, partially due to the lack of involvement from director William Friedkin, and William Peter Blatty, the writer of both “The Exorcist” novel and screenplay.
In 1983, Blatty continued “The Exorcist” with what he considered to be the true sequel, a novel titled “Legion.” Originally written as a screenplay, Blatty turned it into a book after development issues became apparent. Six years later, Blatty finally decided to take a seat in the director’s chair and make the film adaptation he always wanted without having to compromise with the director, and wow, did it work.
“The Exorcist III” is probably one of the most underrated and unknown films out there. The film focuses mainly on Lieutenant Kinderman as he investigates a string of murders that continue to rock Georgetown. In this film, Kinderman is played by George C. Scott (“Patton”), who hands in an absolutely incredible performance. Jason Miller is the only actor from the original film to reprise his role as Patient X. Even though Scott’s performance is great, it is Brad Dourif (“Lord of the Rings”) who really steals the show, in what is probably one of the greatest performances not to be nominated for an Oscar. The performances are helped no doubt, by an excellent script. Blatty delivers some excellent dialogue, showcasing his strengths as a writer of both horror and comedy. Not only is his writing extremely strong, but his directing is as well. For someone who had only one previous experience as a director, Blatty’s direction and understanding of cinema is outstanding. Without giving away anything, viewing the famous “nurse scene” will show you how skilled he is. Blatty knows that true horror is in what is not shown, and he takes advantage of this knowledge to great success. This film is a masterclass in creating tension, which pays off truly scary scares.
In regards to the studio meddling, there were extensive reshoots added to the film at the request of the studio, including a new ending and naming the film “The Exorcist III” instead of “Legion.” Blatty was quite disappointed with this, but now that the original version has been included on the latest Blu-Ray release, many fans argue that the original theatrical version is superior.
It is nowhere near as shocking or iconic as its predecessor, but “The Exorcist III” is absolutely worthy of audience’s attention this Halloween season. With great writing and directing, amazing performances, a strong script and genuine scares, there is no reason to overlook this film any more than it already has been. If you are sick of watching the same old scary movies every year, this is a great one to add to your lineup. It may not be as good as the original, but this film is certainly worthy of carrying “The Exorcist” brand name in its title, whether that is what Blatty wanted or not.
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