Production Year: 1977 - Horror - Director: John Boorman - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Ned Beatty, Richard Burton, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Max Von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Paul Henreid, James Earl Jones more
Four years after Regan (Linda Blair) has a demon exorcised by a Catholic priest, flying reveries and visions continue to pervade her dreams. Father Lamont (Richard Burton) is... more
screen. A much-anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning original, it turned out to be an unintentionally hilarious mishmash and received such terrible reviews that dir...
screen. A much-anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning original, it turned out to be an unintentionally hilarious mishmash and received such terrible reviews that dir...
Exorcist 2 - The Heretic
Bizarre nightmares plague Regan Macneil (Linda Blair) four years after her possession and ... more
exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator (Richard Burton) and a hypnotic research specialist (Louise Fletcher) free her from its grasp?Employing production design and special effects that are dizzily exhilarating and supporting cast (Max Von Sydow, Paul Henreid, James Earl Jones) of compelling distinction, director John Boorman draws us into the tangible experience of evil. We fly with the demon, feel the African landscape vibrate and get engulfed in the terror of swarming locusts as Exorcist II: The Heretic weaves it's fascinating, frightful spell.
Production Year: 2000 - Horror - Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Carmen Electra, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, James Van Der Beek, Keenen Ivory Wayans
A review by dadmancat on Exorcist 2 - The Heretic (Long Version) (DVD) May 9th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Disliked it
Story
Very weak
Characters / Performances
Weak
Special Effects
Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?
Weak
Advantages:
Ennio Morricone's score, Some good ideas
Disadvantages:
Lack of conviction
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
'The Exorcist II: The Heretic' has the unenviable distinction of being one of the most despised sequels in history. Worse still, as a standalone picture it's still pretty horrendous. There is very little of worth in 'The Heretic' and on all levels it falls flat, with no redeeming qualities it deserves its position in the Hollywood Hall of Shame.
Released in 1977 as a follow up to Friedkin and Blatty's record breaking first chapter, the screenplay by John Boorman, William Goodhart and Rospo Pallenberg lifts the least interesting character from the original and devotes an entire movie to them. Regan (Linda Blair) is even more irritating as an adult than as a child, and Linda Blair must take the blame for that. Screechy and whiney, displaying puppy fat that leaves us uncertain of her age, one can't help but think that possession is the best option for her.
Possessed she is too. Now in some kind of hospital for children who have been taken over by mythical and supernatural beings, she is suffering from recurring nightmares, and is being treated by a Doctor (Louise Fletcher) and her magic hat. I kid you not. Doctor Gene Tuskin has been watching episodes of Tomorrows World, and with her tin foil and staple gun, she has fashioned a telepathic titfer. With this device plonked on the unfortunate childs head, she can see their thoughts and inner demons (literally).
Naturally she is concerned by the weight of emotional baggage that Regan is hauling around. Enter sozzled, slurring, purple faced Father Lamont, played by a very very very disinterested Richard Burton. May well he be disinterested too, if he wasn't an alcoholic before reading the script, he certainly would have been one by the end of shooting. Saddled with some of the most preposterously obvious dialogue in film history, he barges aside subtlety and stumbles unsurely for the jugular. Belting out each pyschobabble piece of nonsense as if it were King Lear.
Lamont, an exorcist himself, who has seen a trick or two of the devil, is dispatched to sort out Regan and rid her of that nasty old demon. Great, a fat annoying kid, a magic hat, and a drunk bloke in a dress. You can see the quality of the material already.
The demon turns out be Pasuzu, not a Korean make of hatchback, but instead a winged demon that roams the African plains looking for annoying children to leap inside of. Lamont travels to Africa and tries to take advice from Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow picking up a paycheque). He also digs deeply into, no, thats a lie, he briefly skims, African mythical lore so as to give the film some depth. Lamont encounters Kokumo (James Earl Jones) a man who has himself been brushed by the wings of Pasuzu.
Lamont heads back to America, and Regan, and her magic bonnet, and determines to rid her of the flappy evil one.
The evil one spots him coming though, and creates some cheap special effects, and fashions a cliched ending, and damn it all to spoilers, Lamont drags Regan back to the house of the original, and it is filled with locusts/bits of polysterene before cracking unconvincingly open and then stuff happens and this happens and titles roll and we all cheer.
Good god, this is one ill-conceived film, seemingly thrown together by a committee of children who wanted more of that funny deep voice, and little else. The African adventure has the stamp of John Boorman, and as director, he does enliven these sequences with a genuine sense of the unknown and supernatural. James Earl Jones adds a touch of dignity, and if the film has a saving grace then it is this middle sequence which looks good, doesn't feature Blair, and boasts a few minor though unsettling chills. The rest of the film unfolds like it might belong in the 'Elm Street' franchise. Entirely predictable, hackneyed, filled with characters that you'd love to see slaughtered. The performances are largely dreadful, Boorman directs flatly and only comes alive in Africa. The effects are a pale imitation of the original, and mostly reduce one to fits of giggles. The cinematography by William A Fraker (he'd had better days with Rosemarys Baby and Bullitt) lifts the production above the sewers, as does the score from Ennio Morricone. In terms of redeeming features, that's it folks.
Go in with no expectations, and 'The Heretic' will still disappoint. Preview audiences reacted with jeers and howls of derision and the film was hauled back to the editing suite. The resulting movie is no less worthy of derision, and Warner Brothers shoved it out with an almost apologetic fanfare. Boorman was probably damaged the most by the experience, a very talented director, it would be 4 more years before he was behind a camera with the sublime 'Excalibur'. It is often quoted that Warners threatened him with a hefty lawsuit when he tried to walk off the project. Shame they couldn't try the same as the public walked from the theatres.
Should you be curious, this little beauty is available on DVD, but sandwiched by the far better chapters I & III. The boxset only contains extras for the original, and those are the same as to be found on the existing single disc releases. Priced at £24.99, you pays your money and takes your chance.
More Reviews
Exorcising The Demons Review ofExorcist 2 - The Heretic (Long Version) (DVD)by
LostWitness
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Dull, pointless, poorly-made, downright silly at times
Question
How do you follow one of the greatest horror films of all time?
Answer
You don't. But if you were stupid enough to do it, you certainly wouldn't do it like this.
Four years after the events of The Exorcist, and Regan is now living in New York, where she is under the care of an eminent child psychologist, Dr Gene Tuskin. Although seemingly quite balanced, Dr Tuskin is concerned that Regan is much more vulnerable than she appears to be ... ...hypnotherapy to help her recover from her terrible ordeal.
In The Vatican, concerns have been raised about the death of Father Merrin - the priest who attempted to exorcise the demon from Regan's body and subsequently died from an apparent heart attack. The Church believes that Merrin was himself a satanist and in order to try and protect his reputation - and soul - one of Merrin's pupils, Father Philip Lamont, is assigned to investigate Father ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
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very helpful
03.11.2005
Read this please Review ofExorcist 2 - The Heretic (Long Version) (DVD)by
D1A1UK
Advantages: See below Disadvantages: Same above
...feeling too well watching The Exorcist isn’t the most appropriate course of action to take, but it seemed like the perfect opportunity to watch the very film that caused so many cinema audiences to faint all of 28years ago. So some people may not feel it’s particularly scary today, but I hadn’t seen this before and although it wasn’t overly terrifying, it managed to shock me in places!
I bought the DVD a few weeks back, and ... ...Friedkin guides you into The Exorcist as he briefly talks about the film. “Turn down the lights, turn up the sound & enjoy the digitally re-mastered version of The Exorcist’! The most shocking aspect of the film for me, was learning that it’s based on a true story – this is before the film, and I still hadn’t got a clue about how the film would be like. This immediately made me feel that this is a serious film – ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
very helpful
15.05.2001
Good vs. Evil Review ofExorcist 2 - The Heretic (Long Version) (DVD)by
fitzgerald_ed
Advantages: Very good horror film with a wide array of extras. Disadvantages: Shock value has lessened with time.
...the BBFC. The Exorcist focuses on the battle between good and evil. The battle between God and the Devil. The story revolves around a small girl who, after fooling around with a Ouija board has fallen victim to the devil. After showing signs of posession, a Priest who is rapidly loosing faith is called into help the girl. He comes to the conclusion that an exorcism is needed and calls on another priest in order to rid the girl of the demon that has ... ...contains a documentary on the Exorcist that was originally shown on channel 4, but the version on show here has been cut down from the original 70 minute feature to around 55 minutes. Also contained on this side are trailers, TV Spots and interviews. A good selection of extras to say the least.
Picture Quality is good for a film of this age as is the Dolby 5.1 Soundtrack, which enhance the immersion factior of the film. This film is a true horror ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...cannot rely on just the exorcist to be the backbone of the film. All the actors in the film do a great part in making it come to life. The brilliant soundtrack of the film is from 'Tubular Bells' by Mike Oldfield. It is perfect for the film and helps create a doomed atmosphere. If you are easily scared or offended I wouldn't watch this film. There are some incredibly crude and offensive scenes (one which sticks out is Regan masturbating with a crucifix). ... ...this film can come across as a little dated. But it is not one you will easily forget.
Side A of the DVD has the film and Side B has the extras. The fantastic 'Fear Of God Documentary' is included on side B. It is definately worth watching.
P.s Don't eat when watching this film!! ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Quite Simply The Best Horror Film Ever Made Disadvantages: It May Be Too Much For Some People
...the screenplay after all), The Exorcist tells the story of an innocent little twelve year old girl who becomes possessed by a demon, possibly The Devil himself.
OK so you all know that but in case you haven't seen this masterpiece i urge you to do so. I understand that this will not appeal to everyone but it is an amazing piece of work.
Starting off at an archeological dig in Israel the film starts to build up the eerie sense of dread that continues ... ...you wish to enjoy the exorcist you must want to. Totally let go of your real world and watch as a small girl is tortured endlessly by the demon that has invaded her. If you do not have total faith in this film then you will not find it the masterpiece of psychological horror that it is, you will simply laugh at it. In the cinema nearly everyone laughed at the scenes of Regan as she is thrown about on her bad, whenever she used foul language people ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Plot: Four years on, Father Lamont finds the evil in Regan, apparently exorcised, is only dormant.
DVD Description
Four years after Regan (Linda Blair) has a demon exorcised by a Catholic priest, flying reveries and visions continue to pervade her dreams. Father Lamont (Richard Burton) is released from the Vatican to discover the truth behind Regan's problems, little knowing that the search will take him to Africa and back. Can Lamont's dedication and hypnotic research specialist Dr Gene Tuskin's (Louise Fletcher) know-how sort Regan out once and for all
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 20/10/2003
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: D 001023
Barcode: 7321900010238
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, Alternate Opening Sequence
Sound: Mono
Dubbing Sound: Mono
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Listed on Ciao since : 22/10/2000
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