Review: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Directed by: John Boorman
Written by: William Goldhart
Starring: Linda Blair, Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher and Max von Sydow

I must have been 15 when I first saw William Friedkin's The Exorcist. I remember being excited about finally experiencing what was reportedly the "scariest film ever made." I did enjoy it, though I found much of it sluggish and over-the-top. It's been ten years since and I've developed more of an appreciation for it as I've matured, though I still don't hold it in as much esteem as countless cinema fan. Frankly I think it's outdated, largely because it tapped into the anxieties of a fervently more religious society that was America in the 1970s. It's a landmark in film history, which makes for an interesting comparison with the film I'm gonna discuss.

Exorcist II: The Heretic takes place four years after the original. Regan MacNeil has grown into a sociable teenager with an interest in performing arts, but is afflicted with nightmares and repressed memories following her demonic possession. As she undergoes care with psychiatrist Dr. Gene Tuskin, we meet Father Philip Lamont, a priest tasked with investigating Father Merrin's earlier actions and their connection with Regan.

I hold the view that sequels to The Exorcist didn't need to exist. I was content with the conclusion of the original classic, and this makes the selection of John Boorman to fill the duty as director so complexing to me. Boorman's work is very hit-and-miss with me, and reportedly he didn't even like the original! Was he forced into this out of a contract duty? Did he feel compelled to 'correct' the original? Either way, it shows. I'm not gonna go so far as to say it's among the worst films ever made as is often said, but it's so removed from the original in its mood, themes and coherence that I don't see many fans being pleased.

On positives, there's a few. Linda Blair had evidently flourished as an actress in the years between the two movies. Despite not having the best writing material to work with, her pleasure with playing Regan MacNeil remains as apparent as it was in the original. I also really adored the soundtrack. Composed by the amazing Ennio Morricone, this comes as no surprise and I found it reinvesting me when I otherwise was having my patience tested.

What ultimately makes the film a poor sequel however is that it feels confused in what it wants to be. It's not enough to not want to be the original and it desperately wants to find its own. There are numerous sequences that take us to an unspecific place in Africa. They showcase their absurdity in the form of James Earl Jones dressing as a locust, depictions of Father Merrin's strange past with a group of fanatics, and erratic flying POV shots of Pazuzu that I'd call a poor imitation of The Evil Dead had that film been made yet. It actually begs being called so-bad-it's-good at times. I actually chuckled at Kokumo (James Earl Jones) spitting a tomato at the bed of nails laying before Lamont. Yeah, that happens too.

I didn't Exorcist II: The Heretic necessarily hard to get through. Its sheer ridiculousness is amusing enough, and it isn't without a few legitimately strong elements. If you were of the opinion that the original film needed a sequel, I don't see how this would match what you had in mind. It's not one of the worst movies ever, or even one of the worst sequels ever, but largely unremarkable all the same. Hopefully I'll like The Exorcist III more.

My Rating: 5/10