Prequel to the Exorcist. Father Merrin goes to Africa to find artifacts in a recently discovered only to find out that the church was meant to keep evil in it's place. And it's not doing a very good job.
While Dominion (the other version of this tale) is a better movie, this one is a fun popcorn flick. It has good special effects, the scares are the typical cliches of things suddenly popping into frame and character development is kept to a minium like in a typical Hollywood blockbuster (think Michael Bay).
The climax of the film had me laughing because they turned the exorcism into hunt and chase action scene.
While, I wouldn't call the movie scary, I will say it's entertaining.
Dominion has better written characters this one has slightly better Maybe if the two had been merged you would have got a better film. If u are going pick one to watch then pick Dominion. Stellan Skarsgard is still the highlight as Father Merrin but the rest of the film is just plain daft special effects.
So very dissapointed in this. There was so much potential with this concept and it just doesn't deliver. The casting was bad (except for Skarsgard) and the acting was lackluster. I felt like they spent a majority of the movie trying to establish the mood (failed) and in the last 15-20 minutes raced around trying to cover all of the theretofore neglected plot points, with needless and overblown action sequences thrown in. The exorcism itself was pathetic. This movie did not frighten me at all, which would have been fine, except that neither did it move me at all. It has a few good moments (I enjoyed the opening scene) but they are too few and far inbetween to help any. SO glad I rented this before I purchased it. Now I have to go check out Paul Schrader's version (Dominion) and see what he did with it before Harlin took over the project, though I no longer have high hopes about it.
I worked on it, so I am biased. I did feel that it touched on a number of points linking it to the Exorcist series. Bottom line, I do feel it is an improvment over the the previous version... You know the one I mean!
Quite possibly the most boring movie I've ever seen. Technically, it's decently made and directed, but none of that even matters when it's nearly impossible sit through.
The storyline is no good, and the actors are not either. This was a prequal to a masterpiece, an attempt too use the fame of the orginal Exorcist to boost this ones greatness. They failed, and they failed miserably.
Honestly, if you truly loved The Exorcist, then do not watch this film inless you would like for it to be ruined.
This Movie has no ups and downs. The Story was lame and there was more Violence and Blood then a "Story" There was nothing to do with Exorcism in this Movie. I am still wondering how could I watch it to End?
Honestly, I don't remember this movie, all though I know I scene this during a midnight showing at Midland Cinemas. I gave it a 4 on IMBD so that translates to *1/2.
Must say i enjoyed the Exorcist when I saw it all those years ago and this one being the start of it all was pretty cool too. A good series of flics considering I'm not much of a fan of sequels.
omg this is the most creepiest movie I've ever watched that relates to religion.....it scared the shit outta me when I was in gr.4. it was so scary I couldn't sleep for a few nites and imagined there was a demon at the corner of my room. Then i got really creeped out that I wanted holy water and kept a rosary beside me and prayed all nite ...until I confessed how creeped I was by this movie. I also swore neveer to watch movies with religion in it...that was probably why i didn't watch "the passion of the christ"
I'm waiting for the Paul Schrader version*. This was only slightly above average of a teen horror film. I expect more from director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2: Die Harder, The Adventures of Ford Fairlaine, The Long Kiss Goodnight) but I guess he's allowed a stinker or two. Of his work that I've seen ("Cutthroat Island" isn't one of them) this will count as his first for me.
*His verison has subsequently been released but I haven't seen it yet.
omfg this is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo creepy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and disgusting. but still a good scare
A prequel to The Exorcist meant to show where this possessing demon originated from...could have been a lil better for it to be the prequel but tht is my opinion
Prequel to the classic horror film had its moments, but in the long run it's quite a poor film. Seems to be an excuse to showcase as much horror violence and gore as possible. Set many years before the original 'Exorcist' film, 'The Beginning' is a story about Father Merrin's (Skarsgård) first encounter with the devil that is referred to in Friedkin's original masterpiece. Merrin becomes a non-believer in god after witnessing some terrible things during World War II. Now an archaeologist, Merrin travels to Africa to investigate an old Christian church that has been unearthed. After many strange occurances and innocent workers dying in horrible ways, it is concluded that someone among them is posessed by the devil. Even though now a non-believer, Merrin is the only one who can perform an exorcism. Not as good as one would have hoped, especially considering the massive fanbase surrounding the first film, I was ultimately disappointed with Renny Harlin's effort here. The cinematography I found to be particularly dull (as were all the colours), and most of the performances were very unconvincing. There are a few chills to be found towards the ending though. It's a pretty terrible film, but worth a watch.
GOOD...BUT TO MY DISAPOIMENT, IT WAS NOT THAT SCARY...ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DON'T GET SCARED EASILY...I SAW THIS MOVIE BY MYSELF AND STILL WASN'T SCARY AT ALL, I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF WITH THE "RIDING" SCENE...
One of my roommates made me watch this with her...I cant remember which one, b/c I'd prolly hate her now...It was unforunate that I had to sit through this
hey sam remember we were wach the exorcisim of Emily Rose and we were scared and tombstone wasn't and he was just watching like a regular nonscary movie.
MCT:December 29, 2006
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MCT:November 18, 2007
