5 Reasons to Watch The Exorcist: Believer

The Exorcist: Believer follows Victor Fielding, a bereaved single parent, whose daughter goes missing with a friend in the nearby woods. Three days later, both return with no recollection of their mysterious absence, setting forth a ghoulish chain of events, as an unearthed demonic force begins wreaking havoc upon the family, possessing the two children. In desperation, Fielding seeks out the only person alive to have witnessed anything like it before – Chris MacNeil.

1: The cast

Ambitiously rebooting an iconic franchise like that of The Exorcist may worry some horror purists, but Believer more than backs itself up with an impressively star-studded cast. With a slick lead performance from Leslie Odom Jr (Glass Onion, One Night in Miami), Believer also sees the return of scream queen Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream, Interstellar), reprising her role as Chris MacNeil, as well as terrifying performances from youngsters Lidya Jewett and Olivia O’Neill.

The Exorcist: Believer. Universal Pictures

2: You're in good hands 

Ignoring the sprawling spate of Exorcist sequels, prequels and reboots that followed the original, David Gordon Green maintains the continuity of the first film, furthering the plot, while also introducing new characters.

Penned by Green and Peter Sattler (Camp X-Ray), the taut screenplay keeps the viewer on tender hooks throughout. With an unwaveringly maximalist directing style, Green truly goes all out, with the film concluding on a rather ballsy note. Having successfully rebooted the Halloween franchise, with a full trilogy of relatively well-received films, it's safe to say – with Green – The Exorcist is in more than capable hands.

The Exorcist: Believer. Universal Pictures

3: Not one, but two possessions!

Was one foul-mouthed teenager – that just so happens to be a terrifying receptacle for Satan himself – not enough? Well, The Exorcist: Believer boasts a spine-chilling double exorcism, navigated by impressively committed child duo, Jewett and O’ Neill.

A brilliant and chaotic barrage of blood, guts, unparliamentary language, a cavalcade of creepy kids, and freakish body horror; Believer’s possession sequence is bound to keep classic horror fans happy. Through an inventive use of both prosthetic and computer-generated effects, the film manages to remain faithful to the heritage of the original film, whilst also setting a new modern standard of ghoulishness.

The Exorcist: Believer. Universal Pictures

4: New angle

The Exorcist was undeniably a provocative piece of filmmaking, prompting controversies in several parts of the West for hurting religious sentiments – receiving outright bans in some countries. Believer, following in the footsteps of its infamous predecessor, levels a commentary of its own – mounting somewhat of a patriarchal critique with a modern, critical lens.

Likewise, the film features a fresh new take on The Exorcist’s legendary ‘Tubular Bells’, composed by Mike Oldfield. The Exorcist: Believer promises to be a modern, sociopolitically involved spin on the age-old possession tale; a nostalgic horror romp, chock full of all the transgressive ickiness and frights one could wish for.

The Exorcist: Believer. Universal Pictures

5: Carrying on the legacy

Half a century ago, bona fide Horror auteur William Friedkin, directed The Exorcist...

A pulpy, campy, and horrifying gem of full-bodied 70s horror, the film blew away box office records – as well as our collective filmgoing minds. Despite a tempestuous and possibly cursed production, The Exorcist boasts superb cinematography, brilliant practical effects, and a spine-tingling score. The film is undoubtedly a horror classic – in fact, The Exorcist may have formulated the concept. Picking up where the latter left off, can Believer live up to such a hallowed legacy? Watch it to find out…

The Exorcist: Believer lands in Irish cinemas on October 6th – with tickets available here. Watch the trailer below: