Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Years before Father Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa.
Exorcist: The Beginning is a largely disappointing prequel to the classic 1973 film. The plot retreads familiar possession territory without adding meaningful depth to Merrin's backstory, and the Africa/archaeological dig setting, while promising, is underutilized. Stellan Skarsgård gives a serviceable performance as the younger Merrin but is let down by a weak script. The cinematography is competent but generic for the genre, failing to capture the menace or atmosphere of the original. Novelty is limited — despite the prequel framing, the film offers little that distinguishes it from standard late-era possession horror, and the Nazi flashback backstory feels grafted on rather than organically developed. The ending is rushed and relies on CGI-heavy demonic spectacle that undercuts any tension built. An overall mediocre entry that squanders its franchise legacy and intriguing premise.