The Exorcist: Believer,” a 2023 American supernatural horror film, boldly takes on the formidable challenge of revisiting the iconic 1973 classic, “The Exorcist,” and presents a modern reimagining of the chilling tale. A review by Sukanya, exclusively for Different Truths.
“The Exorcist: Believer,” a 2023 American supernatural horror film, takes on the daunting task of revisiting the iconic 1973 classic, “The Exorcist.” Here’s a breakdown of the film using the traditional three-act structure.
Act 1: Setup
The film opens in Haiti, where we meet photographer Victor Fielding and his pregnant wife, Sorenne, enjoying their honeymoon. Tragedy struck with a massive earthquake, leaving Sorenne severely injured. Victor faces a gut-wrenching choice: save his wife or their unborn child, Angela. This traumatic event lays the foundation for the emotional baggage that Victor carries throughout the film.
Fast forward thirteen years, and we find Victor as a single father, grappling with the loss of his faith in God while raising Angela. Angela, yearning to know more about her mother, embarks on a mysterious ritual in the woods with her friend Katherine. When the girls go missing, a frantic search ensues, and they are eventually found with mysterious burn marks on their feet.
Act 2: Confrontation
In the second act, the girls’ strange and disturbing behaviour escalates. Angela attacks Victor, and Katherine has a terrifying outburst during church, raising suspicions of possession. As their condition worsens and their burn marks become increasingly severe, the audience becomes increasingly convinced that supernatural forces are at play. This is the point where the film’s horror elements begin to intensify.
Nurse Ann gives Victor a book written by Chris MacNeil, who went through a similar ordeal with her daughter Regan in 1973. Victor seeks out Chris, who advises him to draw from various cultures and religions to perform an exorcism. The group assembles a team of experts, including a rootwork healer, a Baptist pastor, and a Pentecostal preacher, all in preparation for the harrowing exorcism.
Act 3: Resolution
In the final act, the group, with the addition of Father Maddox, embarks on a daunting exorcism. The demon exposes Victor’s past guilt, compelling him to make an agonizing choice between the two girls. In a heart-wrenching moment, Tony, Katherine’s father, decides to save Katherine, seemingly resulting in Angela’s demise. However, the demon’s cruel twist reveals that the chosen one meets a horrifying fate, as Katherine is mercilessly dragged to Hell.
The film concludes with Victor paying his respects at Sorenne’s grave, Miranda and Tony mourning the loss of Katherine, and Angela returning to school. Chris reunites with Regan, and their poignant reconciliation marks a touching conclusion to the film.
Overall Assessment:
“The Exorcist: Believer” ambitiously attempts to breathe new life into the iconic horror franchise. While it explores profound themes such as faith, guilt, and family dynamics, the film has received critical feedback, with many feeling that it doesn’t quite capture the terror and suspense of the 1973 classic.
Notwithstanding the mixed reviews, the film’s expansion of the Exorcist universe is evident, paving the way for a potential sequel, “The Exorcist: Deceiver,” scheduled for release in 2025.
Picture from Youtube of the Movie poster
Sukanya Basu Mallik is a renowned Indian writer, known for her works in various publications and for winning Best Manuscript Awards for fiction & non-fiction categories (Mumbai Litofest, 2018). She is currently pursuing a PhD at IIT Madras, focusing on organisational behaviour and art-based therapies for enhancing teaching-learning effectiveness using immersive technologies. She was recognised for her short story ‘Healing of Wounds’ at NCLF, led by Ruskin Bond.
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