Exorcising Expectations: A Review of “The Exorcist: Believer”
In 2023, David Gordon Green directed The Exorcist: Believer to revive the classic horror film “The Exorcist.” Though the movie has some strong points, it does not live up to its predecessor.
Familiar Terrain
The movie is set on a similar idea with the original. Two young girls are possessed by a demon and their families seek help from a priest who is having his own issues and an experienced psychiatrist. Ellen Burstyn returns as Chris MacNeil, which gives nostalgia to those who have seen the first film.
Different Take
However, “Believer” takes a different route in terms of fear compared to the original version’s blatant scares. This allows tension build slowly and deals with the psychological effects that possession has on individuals. This can succeed in creating unease sometimes but might leave others yearning for more physical thrills.
Uneven Performance
This movie’s main flaw lies within how it was executed unevenly. Acting performances are great here; Burstyn shines most brightly among all actors. However, there are times when pacing lags or other characters are left underdeveloped by the script while some things repeated from earlier films feel contrived.
Verdict
Though it is well acted and atmospheric, The Exorcist: Believer falls short of terrorizing audiences as much as its predecessor did. Not everyone may appreciate this slow-burn approach while using too much nostalgia in this movie is one of its weaknesses.
Recommendation
If you want to see an interesting piece about faith and possessions, try watching “The Exorcist: Believer”. Nevertheless, if you expect to get scared like when you were watching the first installment of this franchise then you might be disappointed by what’s on screen.
