EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2004)

After the general failure of the Exorcist 2 (I didn't think it was that bad.... it just wasn't that good) I held minimal hopes for this one, but upon loading this bad boy up, the opening scene of the priest amidst a back drop of crusaders crucified upside down I knew this one would be good.

Exorcist: The Beginning is set a few years after the Nazi occupation so lets say around 1950 around 25 years before the events of the original Exorcist film, when a much younger father Merrin has lost faith and left the priest hood to go on an archaeological dig in Africa to figure out what's going on with an unknown church that has been discovered. He settles in with the locals both a priest, Father Francis, the local Africans and tribesman, and even strikes up a friendship with a pretty young archaeologist, Sarah. Things start to get weird around the camp when he is able to enter the church and it appears to be a shrine to Lucifer the fallen angel.

This is where I have to commend the creatives behind this film... If you are into the occult or religious studies this follows the mythology of the fall from the heavens of the warrior angels who rebelled against God quite well... the religious (anti religious) symbolism is used excellently throughout the film and really adds an atmosphere of the arcane to proceedings

Nobody knows who built the church but father Merrin works out it is built on the spot where the rebel angels are said to have fallen to Earth after the battle that got them kicked out of heaven.  Instead of leaving it alone (like the natives suggested) curiousity gets the better of them and they unleash an ancient evil upon the camp and unsuspecting victims and Father Merrin is called upon to use the ancient roman ritual of the Exorcism

I wouldn't go so far as to say this is as good as the original Exorcist film but its a worthy sequel (unlike Exorcist 2) and lends an interesting background to the origins of both Fr. Merrin and the evil entity, Pazuzu that possesses Reagan in the first film, I found it kept my interest the whole way through the film and it was a gripping watch that stimulated me intellectually as well.

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THE EXORCIST (1973)

Well.... It's Easter Sunday here in Australia and what better  way to celebrate than with a screening of one of my all time favourate films, The Exorcist?

Obviously a film I hold in such high regard is never going to get a bad review... but seriously this movie is a must see for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the horror genre.

Based on the 1971 novel of the same name, the Exorcist followed quickly to movie theatres in 1973
and of course gained a reputation as one of the most extreme films ever made, and in my opinion is still up there.... I have the extended directors cut of this film so its hard to be sure what was included in the original but this holds up very well on DVD, the image capture and resolution is sharp as ever (as opposed to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre).

It is also important to take into account that the era in which this movie (along with Rosemary's Baby and The Omen) was made, religion was a lot more powerful, spectre like entity that hung over the heads of much of the western world and a movie like this would have struck fear into many a god fearing movie goer and inciting outrage from the church at large. As someone that grew up catholic and with a life long interest in the occult I think its very important movies such as this were made....

The plot follows the unearthing of a occult deity, PAZUZU in Iraq. (Pazuzu is the god of all fevers and plagues in Sumerian mythology) and posesses a young girl, Reagan with obviously horrifying consequences in both the possession itself and the following attempts to exorcise said demon from the young girl.

Not being alive at the time of release of this film its hard for me to say what exactly offended everyone, there is a fair level of horror / violence and coarse language in the film, but I suspect it hits more at the heart of the Christian faith and exposes the ugly side of faith and more importantly the seldom used ritual of the exorcism itself. Whether or not you believe, this film will certainly make you think twice, and that's the mark of a great film.

The movie itself is well acted, well thought out and perfectly executed.... there is really nothing that anyone can fault with this film, all in all one of the greatest horror movies ever made.

In fact, would recommend anyone to go and get the deluxe edition of the movie with as many extra's as possible as its all interesting and provides a valuable insight into the making of such a land mark film. If you have seen this film before, see it again there are many finer points that come out with a second or third viewing as well.


I couldn't find a streaming version of this on youtube but its well worth going out and getting a copy to own or mail ordering it.!

for more great horror movie reviews and other stuff be sure to check out http://www.gorenography.com