The Exorcist: Believer

When I decided I needed to suck it up and watch horror movies, one of my priorities was watching the classics. High on that list was "The Exorcist." Not only was it a great horror movie, it was a great movie in general. There were a few sequels and a television show, but now there is a more direct sequel: "The Exorcist: Believer."

Angela (Lidya Jewett) and Kathrine (Olivia O'Neill) go missing and turn up three days later, miles away from their homes, with no memory of what happened. It leaves their parents with many questions and nowhere to look for answers.

There is only one good thing about this movie: the performances. Leslie Odom Jr, best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in "Hamilton," is excellent. He plays Anglea's father, Victor, and has been raising her alone since his wife died. Odom Jr. plays Victor's desperation believably. He is a man who wants to protect his daughter from any danger, and when she becomes possessed, he can't.

When you call your movie "The Exorcist," one would hope that the exorcism is well done. It is not. Part of that concerns the use of CGI as opposed to practical effects. Nothing has weight, physically or emotionally. The thing the entire movie was leading up to was a massive letdown. With two possessed children, the potential was to ramp up the stakes and make it interesting, but it was the most tedious part of the movie.

"The Exorcist" is one of the best movies ever made. It is held up as a classic, and justifiably so. This new one had a steep hill to climb and did not even come close to the original. This is the first of a planned trilogy (the second one is contractually obligated to be made), but if they are going to be anything like this one, my only hope is that they do not tarnish the legacy of the original masterpiece.

5/10

Rated R for some violent content, disturbing images, language and sexual references.

1hr. 51mins.