Even if you didn’t see any of the newest “Halloween” reboot trilogy, you probably heard how divisive it was amongst horror fans. “Halloween Kills” is one of the worst slasher movies I have ever seen and “Halloween Ends” is one of the best (apart from the ending). Although, it is clear that David Gordon Green’s direction stood out among all three of them. After ending that trilogy, he moved on to his next reboot trilogy, picking a series much like “Halloween,” in that it is renowned for its terrible sequels. “The Exorcist” is one of the most famous movies of all time. There is one sequel many believe is good, while others think some of the sequels are some of the worst movies ever made, which unfortunately includes “The Exorcist: Believer.”
Why?
As someone who loves horror movies, I was at no point interested in seeing a new take on such a classic, especially considering I didn’t love the original when I saw it (Gasp! How could you say that?). It was too hyped up for my liking, much like “The Silence of the Lambs,” and I was disappointed in how not scary it was. Both movies are exceptionally well made, they just aren’t for me. Going into “The Exorcist: Believer,” my expectations were not high, and they were not met. Green is obviously somewhat proficient behind the camera, as the first “Halloween” reboot is generally well-liked. Although, this movie felt so flat and overall a bit weird. It did not feel like his other movies. Instead, it attempted to take on some current issues but failed to hit the mark in any respect. One example is how they consult other religions and cultures for help expelling the demon, which they actually do in a Leslie Nielsen spoof classic, and it does not fit the film at all.
Nostalgia
Much like other reboots coming out these days, it relies pretty heavily on nostalgia bait, with the original demon coming back, the priest returning and Linda Blair showing up again. One Letterboxd review that summed the idea of this movie up perfectly: “Okay but what if TWO little girls were possessed? Dumbass Studio Exec: holy fuck.” There is no reason for this movie to exist, in my honest opinion. People already had negative opinions about Green after his Halloween trilogy, so he wasn’t going to be carrying this movie. Also, it was not quite necessary for a new installment in this franchise. Especially considering how saturated the market has been with paranormal/possession movies. An example of a recent possession movie that was amazing is “Talk to Me,” one of the most original and scary horror movies I have seen in a long time with absolutely beautiful performances from the leads and great direction. To include, they were all first-time filmmakers!
The hopes of this film spawning a trilogy have died, and I think that is for the best. We need to let older franchises stand alone for a little bit. Not every movie from the ’70s needs to be turned into a franchise.
