Andrew French, Antonie Kamerling, Billy Crawford

Years before he exorcises the devil from Regan McNeil, Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård) encounters true evil in Paul Schrader's prequel to the 1973 horror classic. When his faith dries up, Merri...( read more  read more... )n leaves the priesthood, heads to Africa as an archaeologist and unearths a perfectly preserved ancient church. But the mysterious church, horrific events and the healing of a crippled boy (Billy Crawford) draw Merrin into a battle against pure evil.

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37% liked it

12,945 ratings

R, 116 min.

Directed by: Paul Schrader

Release Date: May 20, 2005

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DVD Release Date: October 25, 2005

Stats: 542 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (542)


  • September 18, 2009
    Hmmm, quite shocking really. Would have expected better from Schrader. It totally lacks in mystery, suspense and horror. I can see why they remade it soon after. Exorcist the beginning isn't a brilliant movie but it?s much better than this. Renny Harlin vs. Paul Schrader, who wou...( read more)ld have thought Harlin would win!
  • August 16, 2009
    A classy, stylish film is what creator William Blatty said about Dominion... and it was.

    Welcome to East Africa, where fallen priest Lankester Merrin is conducting an archaeological dig and uncovers an old christian temple buried since the day it was erected. But he soon discov...( read more)ers the true purpose of the hidden church, and lets loose the evil which was buried away... which soon begins to turn the land upside down, driving animals and people insane, the results being a dying land and the death of innocents. Failing to realise the true extent of this evil before it was too late, Merrin finds the strength to confront the demon in the temple before many more are killed.

    Fromt he failures of the other sequels and prequel, this was a very good effort and provided the backdrop to the horror of the classic. Obviously not for the faint of heart, but this wasn't so shocking as the original, rather tame by standards, but the style and story telling was superb, and it focused well on faith and relationships as well as pitting the characters against their own personal tests of faith, and showing the horror of guilt and evil.

    Watch it... probably one of the better horror flicks of modern times.
  • August 19, 2007
    Was a little slow to get going....
  • September 19, 2006
    I admit that I still haven't seen the Renny Harlin version of this film (and don't really want to, Harlin hasn't made a good film since The Long Kiss Goodnight) but this version is thoughtful and subtle in its creepiness. The digital effects are never convincing, however and the...( read more) film is more preachy than the original Exorcist (but just about right for fans of Exorcist III.) All in all, a good effort.
  • August 8, 2006
    The "psychological thriller" version of the Exorcist prequel story, Domion is less scary, less violent, less climactic, and generally less entertaining than its bloodier counterpart, Exorcist: The Beginning. Not the greatest movie--I really wouldn't recommend this one when the o...( read more)ther is so much better.
  • October 28, 2009
    not near as good as the beginning shot at the same time with the same set.
  • October 3, 2009
    excellent horror, will scare ya!
  • August 20, 2009
    I liked the older one way better. Plus, the woman doctor in this one was an IDIOT. Not once, but TWICE, she tried to help a dead person, and one was right after she watched her get shot in the head. Please tell me, cause Id really love to know, how that dumbass got her license.
  • June 13, 2009
    another waste of time that you should avoid. Hell if it has a beginning or a 2 next to it Avoid
  • May 31, 2009
    I think the church made this one cuz the real prequel is better and demonic. Im surprised that it did not have Kirk Cameron

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