2023 Catch-Up: The Exorcist- Believer

 The original Film's Director attacked the idea of this one and didn't live to see the actual Film.
Well, I did (obviously), so here we are.

How bad can it be?

In Haiti, a man's pregnant wife is severely injured in an Earthquake.

The Doctors tell him that they can save her OR the baby.  He has to choose.

13 years later, he's raising his Daughter in Georgia and trying to get by.

She makes friends and spends the night with one...only to go missing.

Well, you know the Title of this one, so you can guess where this goes.

The girl is definitely NOT ready for Picture Day!

Well, it's a Legacy Sequel, so who can they get?

It is Ellen Burstyn as the Mom from The Exorcist, who got famous for her story, but lost touch with her Daughter (who has avoided this Series since Part 2).

She's happy to help out, even if her Billing might make you believe that she has a bigger part than she actually does.

Can a Priest, a Pastor and a bunch of other people (including Aunt Lydia from The Handmaid's Tale) save TWO girls possessed by a demon (or demons)?!?

Is this a very literal case of Sequelitis?

It may come down to Dad making another choice.

Will he make the right one?

To find out, stream the Film now.
Someone paid $400 million for this (and possibly only this), so they'd prefer if you did!

Truth time- I don't hate this.

Get out the pitchforks!  It's true!

Is this better than the original?  No. 
Is this better than Part 2?  Hell yes.

This Film got lots of flack.  I'm honestly not sure why!
Sure- I could point out that some people *probably* didn't like it, since it Stars *gasp* People of Color.  That's a given.

The Plot isn't bad.  I do like the Story, and it plays out pretty well.  I like the make-up.  I like the Effects overall.  I liked the Acting from all involved.  It wasn't just a rehash with new CGI and Actors.

Was it likely a shallow marketing attempt to shell out that much money for the Series rights?  Yes.
Should the Film be blamed for that?  No.

This one is pretty good at hitting the right notes for a Legacy Sequel (returning character, some familiar beats) and being its own thing.  If you somehow have NO emotional connection to the Series of Films, you can watch this on its own.

Would it be less hated if it was one of the many, MANY non-Exorcist Films about an Exorcism?  Probably.

Ultimately, it is a decent to good Film that got hit for many reasons (fair or not), got people up in arms about a random line from Ellen Burstyn joking about 'the patriarchy' and probably wasn't helped by the growing annoyance at these kinds of Films (like that last TCM Film or the Halloween ones or Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom...or The Flash...or Spider-Man: No Way Home...etc, etc.)

Honestly, give it a chance.  You may or disagree.  Regardless, just remember what all Films fear- going head-to-head with Taylor Swift!

A Film that will hopefully get a fair shake.  Again- I'm not saying that it is life-changing or amazing, but it is not the Worst Film of the Year by a mile.