The Confessional (1976)

Jenny is stalked by an obsessed priest in THE CONFESSIONAL, from 1976! Pete Walker returns with another fiendish plot as he lashes out against the questionable methods of the Catholic church. When Jenny wanders in to the wrong confessional booth, her sins are recorded and used to blackmail her into submission by the crazed Father Meldrum, who has suffered from years of sexual repression from his mother and the church. Walker quickly sets the mood for mystery and suspense, while creating a constant sense of unease as the wayward priest presses his parishioners for more lurid details about their personal lives in order to "absolve" them of their sins. When that doesn't work, Meldrum enforces his own deadly form of penance upon his victims! Anthony Sharp is wickedly entertaining as Father Meldrum, who is joined by Walker favorite Sheila Keith as his permissive assistant. Susan Penhaligon and Norman Eshley are quite enjoyable as Jenny and Father Cutler, as well. THE CONFESSIONAL is a twisted and sadistic little shocker that is sure to please fans of ALICE, SWEET ALICE and ABSOLUTION.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like THE CONFESSIONAL:
ABSOLUTION, HOUSE OF WHIPCORD, ALICE SWEET ALICE, DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING, HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS.

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Hunger (2009)

Jordan awakens beside four strangers who have been trapped beneath the surface by some unseen foe. They are promised their freedom if they can last just over 30 days without food, but as hunger sets in, the captives find much more to fear in each other than in simple starvation! This nifty little premise allows director Steven Hentges to cram a great deal of suspense into his claustrophobic set, but HUNGER will leave most audiences wanting more. It is far too reflective of the SAW series with the sadistic overseer attempting to push his victims to inhuman lengths in order for them to discover their survivor's instinct. Even that would be forgivable were it not for the mundane cast. With the exception of Lori Heuring, we are left with a handful of whiny, depressing characters that do nothing to draw from our sympathies. Joe Egender is quickly pinned down as the villain, a role which suits him nicely. Lea Kohl and Julian Rojas, on the other hand, are just awful, and make for some unintentional humor with their ridiculous overacting. This takes away from the seriousness of their situation, as the final act unravels into a bloody mess. HUNGER can only be recommended if you are starved for Horror.

Rating: 6/10.

Movies like HUNGER:
THE DIVIDE, SAW, VILE, THE HOLE, DREAD, ELEVATOR, NINE DEAD.

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Quite a Conundrum (2012)

Things are just heating up at Mimi's pool party when her eye-patch wearing ex-lover stumbles on to the scene and blows his brains out. Now, the fun is just getting started for her and her friends as they get wrapped up in a series of unfortunate events. Thomas L. Phillips presents QUITE A CONUNDRUM, a CLERKS-style comedy that mixes subversive humor with suspense. Unfortunately, QUITE A CONUNDRUM shares many of the same weaknesses as Kevin Smith's cult-classic with few of its strengths, particularly when it comes to the scripted dialog and staged acting. Sasha Ramos and Erin Cline are unable to pull off their lines successfully, which severely detracts from the intended humor in the opening act. The film slowly begins to pick up as the action gets underway, despite the onslaught of obnoxious characters that get thrown in our midst. It is clear from the start that Phillips is looking to shock audiences in to a reaction, which might have worked had he been given a more convincing cast. As it stands, QUITE A CONUNDRUM is an uneven mix of weak performances, minor thrills, and poor comedic timing.

Rating: 4/10.

Movies like QUITE A CONUNDRUM:
CLERKS, PARTY ANIMALZ, THE HAZING, DONKEY PUNCH, DUST UP, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, THE DEEP.

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Retardead (2008)

Dan West and Rick Popko followup the immensely entertaining MONSTURD with the second half of their demented Grindhouse double-feature! RETARDEAD begins after a brief intermission featuring two ridiculously over-the-top trailers for FRANKENSTEIN AND THE BLOODY BEAST OF GHASTLY TERROR and DRACULA VS JACK THE RIPPER. The feature picks up immediately where MONSTURD left off, with the conniving Dr. Stern narrowly escaping his own demise from the city sewers. Stern takes on a new position at the school for the gifted in town, and administers an experimental serum to its special needs children that gives them a heightened intelligence. Unfortunately for Butte County, the drug also has an unforeseen side-effect that turns his test subjects into the retardead! Like Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt before them, Dan and Rick use crude and idiotic humor in a brilliantly dark and twisted way that is always sure to offend. Popko and West save all of the best lines for themselves while hamming it up as the town's dimwitted deputies. When it does come time for the horror, RETARDEAD spares nothing in the gore department! The bloody special effects are top-rate for a low-budget feature, with plenty of flesh-ripping and gut-munching goodness to please the fans. RETARDED is the kind of B-movie gold that Horror fans search tirelessly for, but expect the same tasteless humor that the title implies.

Rating: 5/10.

If you liked RETARDEAD, check out:
PLAGA ZOMBIE, TERROR AT BLOOD FART LAKE, THE TAINT.

Read The Full Post HERE!

I Spit On Your Grave (1978)

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE has been the source of controversy for decades since its initial release in 1978. As a rape and revenge film, it belongs to a very specific sub-genre of cinema that many critics consider to be intolerable exploitation. On the other hand, fans of these movies must consider it to be top-ranking in this particular category. In it, Jennifer heads off to a small getaway by the lake so that she can relax and complete her work on her first novel. Her arrival draws the attention of four degenerates in town, who abduct her and repeatedly rape her out in the woods. Just when it seems she has escaped, she returns home only to find the men there waiting for her. Jennifer barely survives the brutal attacks, but rather than going to the police, she regains her strength and sets out to seduce each of the men before exacting her own bloody revenge!

What makes I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE so powerful is that it never glamorizes the rape sequences. In fact, they are hardly bearable to watch due to Camille Keaton's harrowing screams and failed attempts to free herself. There are hints of hesitation and regret that come from several of the men that humanize the characters, which is even more dangerous than painting them to be soulless monsters since it draws them back into reality. It is not just the extreme violence against women that most critics condemn, but the manner in which the subject of rape is handled. Jennifer's independence and sexual liberation entice the men, which seems to suggest the common excuse that "She was asking for it." They hoot and holler as they each take their turns with her, shouting "You want to be a man, don't you?" This has brought fire down on the film, since it seems to depict that Meir Zarchi's views rape as a sex act, and not as an act of power and domination. It isn't enough for Jennifer to suffer physically, but she is humiliated as well as the men mockingly read from her unfinished novel before destroying her work.

The original title of DAY OF THE WOMAN can also help in reading the film as an underestimated but radically pro-feminist work. Jennifer is entirely independent and successful, writing for a number of women's magazines before setting off to complete her own novel. Her sexual freedom is a demonstration of a progressive society where women are treated equally to men (though the men in this story try to restore prior order). Even during the attacks, Jennifer is never depicted as being weak. She struggles with all of her might, but she is overwhelmed and outnumbered. After, she becomes that much stronger and more cunning, and she uses that strength to emasculate and eviscerate her adversaries. At the heart of any rape and revenge story is the revenge, and being that this is a Horror movie, Jennifer's revenge is swift and painful. Each of the men suffer a terrible death at her hands, the worst of which involves a knife and a bathtub as she takes the lead villain's manhood in hand.

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE remains an undisputed classic in the rape and revenge genre, and its notoriety as such has kept it banned in countless countries around the world for over thirty years. To say that it is nothing more than despicable exploitation, however, is to blindly overlook many of stronger points that Meir Zarchi brings to the screen.

Rating: 9/10.

If you liked this film, check out:
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE, MS. 45.

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Tribeca Acquires 'Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes'

TRIBECA FILM AND WELL GO USA ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES

NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO 

EMANUEL AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES

Featuring standout performances by Jessica Biel and Kaya Scodelario

New York, NY – May 13, 2013 – Tribeca Film and Well Go USA Entertainment today announced they have co-acquired North American rights to Francesca Gregorini’s (Tanner Hall) psychological thriller Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes, starring Jessica Biel (Hitchcock, The Illusionist), Kaya Scodelario (“Skins”, Wuthering Heights), Alfred Molina (An Education, Spider-Man 2), and Frances O'Connor (The Importance of Being Earnest, A.I.). Writer/director Gregorini produced the film with Matthew R. Brady (MRB) which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

In what Twitch calls “a story unlike anything I’ve seen on the screen before” Emanuel (Scodelario), a troubled girl, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious, new neighbor (Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In offering to babysit her newborn, Emanuel unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world, of which she becomes the gatekeeper. The Hollywood Reporter calls Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes “an accomplished coming-of-age feature.”

Tribeca Film and Well Go USA Entertainment plan a late 2013 theatrical release along with on-demand platforms where it will be available in more than 50 million homes in the U.S. and Canada through a variety of video-on-demand offerings, as well as iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly, VUDU, Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Google Play and YouTube.

“Francesca Gregorini’s superb Emanuel and the Truth about Fishes is a rare and remarkable work of mixed genres and expectations,” said Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer Tribeca Enterprises. “A taut surprising and original thriller featuring a career best performance from Jessica Biel and a breakout role by Kaya Scodelario.”

“I feel in Tribeca and Well Go I have found the perfect home for Emanuel and the Truth about Fishes. They are true lovers of cinema and I feel strongly that they will reach audiences hungry for unique, innovative work,” said Francesca Gregorini.

The deal was negotiated for Tribeca Film by Nick Savva, Director of Acquisitions, and on behalf of the filmmakers by Kevin Iwashina and Abby Davis of Preferred Content, and Jonathan Gray of GKSD Law. Read The Full Post HERE!

Creepy New Trailer Gets 'Inbred'

XLrator Media Presents

INBRED

Directed by Alex Chandon

Starring Jo Hartley, Seamus O'Neill, James Doherty

LOS ANGELES, CA - May 15, 2013 - When four troubled teens and their social workers take a community service trip to a remote Yorkshire village, a minor incident with some local inbred youths rapidly escalates into a violent, deliriously warped nightmare:



Release Dates:
VOD - 8/22/13
DVD - 9/24/13

Distributor: XLrator Media Read The Full Post HERE!

Eerie New Domestic Poster for 'Jug Face'

View the new domestic poster for Chad Crawford Kinkle’s 

Starring Sean Young, Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Bridgers, 

Larry Fessenden, and Daniel Manche.

LOS ANGELES, CA - May 15, 2013 - The pit has spoken. Dawai, the potter of a backwoods community, has crafted a face on a ceramic jug of the person that the pit wants sacrificed. Ada, pregnant with her brother’s child, has seen her face on the jug and hides it in the woods, determined to save the life of her unborn. If she does not sacrifice herself however, the creature from the pit will kill everyone in the village until she does. JUG FACE made its world premiere at Slamdance 2013 (Kinkle’s script won the 2011 Slamdance Screenwriting and Teleplay Competition Grand Prize), and will have its theatrical release later this summer, with an announcement coming soon.

Theatrical Release: Date coming soon
Director: Chad Crawford Kinkle
Starring: Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Young, Sean Bridgers, Larry Fessenden, Daniel Manche
Screenplay: Chad Crawford Kinkle
Running Time: 81
Not yet rated
Official Site: http://jugfacethemovie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JugFace
Read The Full Post HERE!

Anchor Bay Unleashes 'Solomon Kane' July 16th!

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT and RADiUS-TWC PRESENT

SOLOMON KANE

STARRING “The Following’s” JAMES PUREFOY, the late PETE POSTLETHWAITE, 

RACHEL HURD-WOOD and MAX VON SYDOW

“A solid fantasy flick.”

-Chris Bumbray, JoBlo.com

The sword and sorcery action tale comes to Blu-ray and DVD on July 16, 2013

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - May 15, 2013 - Anchor Bay Entertainment and RADiUS-TWC announced today the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of SOLOMON KANE. The film was directed by Michael J. Bassett (“Da Vinci’s Demons” and Silent Hill: Revelation 3D) and stars James Purefoy (“The Following”), the late Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father), Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan) and Max von Sydow (The Exorcist). The character Solomon Kane was created by pulp-era writer and mind behind Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard. SOLOMON KANE heads to retail on July 16, 2013 for an SRP of $26.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $22.98 for the DVD.

Captain Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war on all continents. As the story opens, Kane and his band of pillagers are carving a bloody path through hordes of defenders in an exotic city in northern Africa. But, when Kane decides to attack a mysterious nearby castle to plunder its rumored riches, his mission takes a fateful turn. One by one, Kane's men are picked off by demonic creatures until he alone is left to face the Devil's own Reaper -- dispatched from the depths of Hell to lay claim to his hopelessly corrupt soul. Though Kane at last manages to escape, he knows that he now must redeem himself by renouncing violence and devoting himself wholly to a life of peace and purity.

SOLOMON KANE Blu-ray™ and DVD special features include a ‘Making Of’ featurette, interviews and commentary with Director Michael J. Bassett, the producers & cast, a deleted scene, gallery images and Special FX featurette!

Learn more about SOLOMON KANE at www.solomonkanethemovie.com. Read The Full Post HERE!

First Official Lenticular Debut of 'I, Frankenstein'

In the battle between good and evil, an immortal holds the key.

I, FRANKENSTEIN

NEW YORK, NY - May 15, 2013 - Check out the exclusive first look of I, FRANKENSTEIN straight from the Cannes film festival! The dystopian thriller, from the producers of UNDERWORLD, pits gargoyles and demons against each other in the ultimate battle for immortality. Starring Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto, Jai Courtney, and Yvonne Strahovski, this modern day epic will have you on the edge of your seat:

I, FRANKENSTEIN opens nationwide January 14, 2014!!

Read The Full Post HERE!

V/H/S/2 Trailer Drips Red

The Brand New RED BAND Trailer for

V/H/S/2

Is Out Now!

V/H/S/2 will be on iTunes/On Demand June 6, 2013 and in theaters July 12, 2013.

Directed by Simon Barrett, Adam Wingard, Edúardo Sanchez, Gregg Hale, 

Timo Tjahjanto, Gareth Huw Evans and Jason Eisener

LOS ANGELES, CA - May 15, 2013 - Inside a darkened house looms a column of TVs littered with VHS tapes, a pagan shrine to forgotten analog gods. The screens crackle and pop endlessly with monochrome vistas of static—white noise permeating the brain and fogging concentration. But you must fight the urge to relax: this is no mere movie night. Those obsolete spools contain more than just magnetic tape. They are imprinted with the very soul of evil:



From the demented minds that brought you last year’s V/H/S comes V/H/S/2, an all-new anthology of dread, madness, and gore. This follow-up ventures even further down the demented path blazed by its predecessor, discovering new and terrifying territory in the genre. This is modern horror at its most inventive, shrewdly subverting our expectations about viral videos in ways that are just as satisfying as they are sadistic. The result is the rarest of all tapes—a second generation with no loss of quality.

Rated: R

Runtime: 95 minutes

For more info:

Official Website: http://magnetreleasing.com/vhs2/

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VHS2 Read The Full Post HERE!

Wicked New Poster for 'Hell Baby'

Check out the official TEASER poster for the hilarious horror comedy

From Millennium Entertainment

Written and Directed by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant

Starring Rob Corddry, Leslie Bibb, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Ian Black, 

Riki Lindhome, Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer

LOS ANGELES, CA - May 15. 2013 - HELL BABY, a comedy scripted by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (Night at The Museum, Reno 911!: Miami) marks their co-directing debut. Jack (Rob Corddry) and Vanessa (Leslie Bibb) are an expectant couple that moves into the most haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans -- a house with a deadly demonic curse. Things soon spiral out of control for Jack and Vanessa, as well as their-not-so-helpfulneighbor F'Resnel (Keegan-Michael Key), Vanessa's friendly psychiatrist (Michael Ian Black), Vanessa's Wiccan sister Marjorie (Riki Lindhome) and the detectives assigned to look into the rising body count (Rob Huebel and PaulScheer). Only the Vatican's elite exorcism team (Garant and Lennon) san save them -- or can they?

For more info:

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HellBabyMovie

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HellBabyMovie Read The Full Post HERE!

Anchor Bay Brings Home 'The Demented'

“This is not a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.

We are under attack...”

BEWARE OF

THE DEMENTED

FROM ANCHOR BAY FILMS

Spreading terror July 30th on

Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack and DVD

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - May 15, 2013 - Horror films often take their cue from daily newspaper headlines, feeding on the all-too-real fears of the everyday world. Like the best science fiction, sometimes horror lies just around the corner or beyond the bend of what we know. On July 30th, Anchor Bay Films unleashes the biological warfare thriller The Demented on Blu-ray™/DVD combo pack and DVD. From the creative minds behind I Spit On Your Grave and A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Demented is a terrifying excursion into a plague-infected world...where one moment off guard is all that keeps us from becoming them.

With a hot cast including Sarah Butler (I Spit On Your Grave), Brittney Alger (21 Jump Street), Kayla Ewell (“The Vampire Diaries”), Richard Kohnke (“The Carrie Diaries”) and Michael Welch (The Twilight Saga Franchise), The Demented will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last frame! SRP for the Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack is $29.99 and $24.98 for the DVD. Pre-book is July 3rd.

The Demented follows six college friends as they meet up for a carefree weekend in a beautiful rural home. A terrorist missile attack in a nearby town infects much of the townspeople with a deadly virus that induces rabies-like symptoms...with devastating consequences. Ravenous and fast, the infected townspeople turn their sights on the vacation home where the friends are gathered...and are now barricaded. How long can they hide? Even with the infected “sleeping” in the streets, can they make their escape? If so, to what? Read The Full Post HERE!

Anchor Bay Gives You 'Detention of the Dead'

“Now write 100 times: I will not eat my classmates’ brains...”

DETENTION OF THE DEAD

Arrives on DVD July 23rd from Anchor Bay Entertainment

CHATSWORTH, CA - May 14, 2013 - Anchor Bay Entertainment holds everyone after class with the July 23rd DVD release of Detention of the Dead. Already a hit at such festivals as FrightFest, Glasgow Film Festival and HorrorHound Weekend, this side-splitting mix of zombies and teen-angst stars Jacob Zacher (“Greek”), Alexa Nikolas (“The Walking Dead”), Christa B. Allen (“Revenge”), Jayson Blair (“The New Normal”), Justin Chon (the Twilight franchise) and Max Adler (“Glee”). The SRP for the DVD is $19.98. The pre-book is June 26th. In addition, fans will be able to experience Detention of the Dead on the big screen at selected theaters nationwide on June 28th. The student body-feast will also be available On Demand starting June 18th.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB meets ZOMBIELAND in this head-busting zombedy. A group of teenagers trapped in detention, fight for survival after their classmates turn into a ravenous zombie horde. Can a cheerleader, a stoner, a jock, a bully, a goth, and a nerd put aside their differences for one night to take on the undead? Will they live to see the morning? Fat chance! This is High School after all.

Bonus features include audio commentary by Writer/Director Alex Craig Mann and “Detention of the Dead: Behind The Scenes” featurette.

Detention of the Dead will delight fans and create a new generation of zombie fans! Read The Full Post HERE!

"The Power of Christ Compels You": An 'Exorcist' Retrospective

It has been called "The Scariest Movie of All Time," and for many, it still is. The Exorcist continues to live up to its reputation now forty years after its initial release, striking terror into the hearts of Horror fans the world over. The demon, Pazuzu, would return in several sequels and prequels, though none could ever match the shock and awe of the original. I Like Horror Movies dons the sacred stole and holy water as we take a look back at The Exorcist series!

The Exorcist (1973)

In 1968, a young Frenchman changed the face of Horror by taking the devil out of the Gothic landscape of Medieval Europe and placing him in a small apartment building in New York City. ROSEMARY'S BABY was born, bringing supernatural terror into a real-world setting. Five year's later, another talented director by the name of William Friedkin would shock audiences the world over with THE EXORCIST, which many consider to be the scariest movie of all time! Adapted from William Peter Blatty's best-selling novel, THE EXORCIST follows 12-year-old Regan McNeil, who becomes possessed by an ancient demon, leaving it up to a pair of Catholic priests to rid the girl of the unclean spirit in order to save her everlasting soul. Regardless of one's religious affiliations, the shocking images and daring implications that THE EXORCIST represents are enough to shake one's belief (or disbelief) in God and the devil. Thanks to an incredibly talented special effects crew, Friedkin has created something so horrible, so truly terrifying, that it would stand to prove the existence of demons on screen. The sweet and sincere Linda Blair is slowly transformed into a foul monster that curses and defiles all that is holy. There is perhaps nothing more profane than watching a young girl stab into herself with a crucifix while shouting "Let Jesus fuck you!" Add to that the spinning heads, levitation, reverse crab-walk, and vomit-spewing, and the film becomes unbearably scary! Even the sound design is enough to make the skin crawl, most notably in the scenes where Regan begs for help by imprinting the words on her flesh and in the tape recorded sessions that Father Karras reviews at the monastery.

While the possessed Regan remains at the center of the action, the story is rather one of faith and redemption; it is the story of Father Karras. We learn very early on that Karras has lost his faith in a godless world, but that faith is restored in his personal encounter with the devil. It is almost as if the demon is used as a means of restoring him to the church, rather than he being the tool used to drive it out. Karras is brilliantly played by the late Jason Miller, who is dark, beaten, and completely unbelieving until the very end. Despite all of the alarming visuals, it is Father Karras' journey that we find the most captivating. The demon taunts him and tempts him, and at times, is able to defeat the wayward priest. If it were not for his reinstalled faith in God, the demon surely would have consumed Regan.

THE EXORCIST is often criticized as being an effects-driven spook show, but this is not the case. As mentioned previously, the performances of Linda Blair and Jason Miller, alone, lend legitimacy to the terrifying theme. In addition, they are met with equally powerful performances by Ellen Burstyn as the struggling mother Chris McNeil and the legendary Max von Sydow as the aged Father Merrin. Burstyn portrays a loving mother, but one that is having difficulty balancing her career and home life, while also dealing with the frustration of her daughter's uncaring father. She presents a character with whom the audience can relate, and she is very good in the role. THE EXORCIST is shot as if the camera is simply a fly on the wall as each of the frightening events take place. We feel intrusive, unwelcome. The camera takes us to places that we dare not go, and once there, it is unflinching as it barrages us with unspeakable horrors. Blatty's script can be often dry, however it is brought to life by the talented cast. The sinister special effects only work to elevate the already-chilling mood and captivating story. This is best demonstrated, again, in the monastery, where we jump out of surprise when the phone rings as Karras is listening to Regan's tapes. There is nothing frightening on screen. We are absorbed in the characters' plight, and we are scared.

THE EXORCIST is, in every way, a Horror classic. It is frightfully shocking, terrifying, and revolting; everything that the genre looks to be. But, it is also built on an excellent story, mood, and characters for whom we care deeply. For that, it must be considered amongst the best that the genre has to offer.

Rating: 10/10.

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Coming off of 'The Scariest Movie of All Time,' it would seem that a sequel to THE EXORCIST would be rather straightforward -- a new demon, a new child, another exorcism -- but somewhere, somehow, things went horribly, horribly wrong. Screenwriter William Goodhart and director John Boorman instead decide take us on their own confusing journey of faith, discovery, and sacrifice.

Regan MacNeil has grown up to become a normal teenager, with no recollection of the terrible possession that befell her just four years earlier. Her psychologist is convinced that Regan is repressing the memories of the events, and that she could easily fall under the influence of the demon once again. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church has sent a priest out to investigate the death of Father Merrin, which leads him to Regan. Using a hypnotic "synchronizer" that links his mind with hers, Father Lamont comes in contact with the demon Pazuzu, who takes him on a trip through time and space to meet another boy he had once possessed. Lamont seeks out Kokumo in Africa and learns that he, too, had rejected the demon, only to become the savior of his people. Now armed with the knowledge needed to save Regan's soul, Father Lamont returns to Georgetown for a final showdown with Pazuzu!

EXORCIST II really is a test of faith, but one taken by the audience. Disbelief must be suspended from the highest peak in order for anyone to accept the preposterous plot, which blends pseudo-science with religious mumbo jumbo. Richard Burton, a seven-time Oscar-nominee, is made to look like a fool as the deranged Father Lamont, who quickly becomes fascinated by the demon he looks to destroy. He often rambles like a psychotic, and makes for a terrible lead when he cannot be trusted by the audience. It is impossible to take Linda Blair seriously, either, when she is forced to go cross-eyed and act brain-dead during the ridiculous "synchronization" experiments. Thankfully, the special effects, cinematography, and incredible locations far outweigh the strength of the script, but EXORCIST II is still widely criticized as being one of the worst sequels in the genre.

Rating: 5/10.

Exorcist III: Legion (1990)

Detective Kinderman is faced with the ghosts of the past when he encounters a man who claims to be the Gemini Killer, but who has taken the appearance of the slain Father Karras. Despite being locked away in the bowels of the local hospital, the Gemini continues to kill, and it is up to Detective Kinderman to stop his supernatural murder spree! EXORCIST III comes as an unexpected surprise after the first disappointing sequel, combining the gripping suspense of a tightly-wrought thriller with the otherworldly terror of the original. William Peter Blatty directs this time around from his own screenplay and novel, and while his style lacks refinement, it is never-the-less effective in setting a frightening mood and delivering a strong, character-driven story. The main faults lie in his artificial language and jarring edits, but these are mostly overcome by the enjoyable performances that come as a result. George C. Scott takes a commanding lead as the boisterous Detective Kinderman, and Jason Miller excels in the role of the villain as the Gemini's earthly vessel. The real treat, however, comes from genre vet Brad Dourif in an electrifying performance as the Gemini, himself. Dourif explores a range of terrifying emotions, from calculated cruelty to raging hatred. He is at his best here. Although the majority of the film plays out like a murder mystery, EXORCIST III packs a fiery finale that delivers on the series' name. It has also gained a cult following for creating one of the scariest moments in all of Horror, but for that, you will just have to wait and see!

Rating: 8/10.

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)

Set in the years following the Second World War, DOMINION tells the tale of Father Merrin, a wayward priest who has turned to archaeology after his faith is shaken by the war. When Merrin uncovers an ancient church buried beneath the sands of East Africa, he will share his first encounter with the devil, who has possessed the body of a poor crippled boy. Despite being shelved immediately after production, Paul Schrader's prequel to THE EXORCIST was simply too good to be released to the general public. Instead of spinning heads and spewing soup, DOMINION takes a much more cerebral approach to evil. Interestingly, Schrader creates a complete reversal from the original film: the demon possesses the body of a sickly boy, it strengthens and repairs him rather than destroying him, and it uses its wicked tongue to rattle the nerve rather than shock the senses. Pazuzu taunts Merrin and attempts to destroy him both mentally and spiritually. Like the fallen angel Lucifer, it appears as the perfect being, an intellectual tempter with a sculpted body and androgynous beauty unlike the foul monster that Merrin would encounter years late. Pazuzu's evil spreads like a plague in the small African village, and turns man against man while the fallen priest works to regain his robes. The corruptive power of evil is felt in full force here, although Schrader takes slow but decisive steps to reach his final goal.

While DOMINION has often been criticized for its unfinished effects, it is rarely hailed for its superior setting. The ancient Byzantine tomb is finely decorated, and serves as an ominous stage for the spiritual warfare. Given the studio's complete lack of faith and resources, the garish computerization must be overlooked in place of the stronger story elements. Stellan Skarsgård is very good as the younger counterpart to Max von Sydow's character, with an introspective approach to the character that is reserved without being underplayed. He gives us cracks in his otherwise stern performance that humanize him and allow us to empathize with his internal struggle. Like Skarsgård, Schrader pulls back as well, refusing to rely on simple shocks in this psychological thriller. His unwillingness to compromise in creating a "studio" picture may have hurt the returns, but in the end, he delivers a much stronger film.

Renny Harlin would be brought on to re-write and re-shoot the entire picture after Morgan Creek decided to pull the project for its lack of marketability, but between the two versions, DOMINION is the preferrable prequel to THE EXORCIST.

Rating: 8/10.

Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

Leslie Nielson entertained audiences with the comical REPOSSESSED in 1990, but if ever there was a spoof on THE EXORCIST, it is in Renny Harlin's prequel THE BEGINNING. After Morgan Creek decided to pull the plug on Paul Schrader's version for putting matter before splatter, they brought on a director who was sure to deliver more action and scares. To that extend, it succeeds, but at what cost?

In THE BEGINNING, Lancaster Merrin, a former priest, is hired to recover an ancient artifact that is believed to be resting in a newly-discovered church buried beneath the sands of East Africa. As the seal to the temple is broken, an evil falls upon the land, and a young boy begins to experience symptoms of demonic possession. With his faith in God restored, Merrin will come face to face with the devil in a final conflict!

THE BEGINNING encompasses everything that is wrong with Hollywood, and demonstrates just how little studio executives know about their audiences. Harlin's version has all of the trademarks of a major studio flopbuster: jump scares, forced sentimentality, over-the-top make-up and effects, and most notorious of all, the twist ending. While it is certainly more fast-paced and unexpected than DOMINION, it fails on almost every other level. Stellan Skarsgård has become tired of his role as Father Merrin, having already acted out the entire script in the earlier version. The pathetic use of sound design to force audience reactions proves how unscary the film really is. Rather than try anything new, Harlin attempts to recreate the bedroom scene from the original EXORCIST within the confines of the church, only this time, he uses a ridiculous villain that brings only laughs instead of chills. This origin story was better left untold, but in the end, Morgan Creek got exactly what they wanted: a bland, bloody shocker that they could market to the masses.

Rating: 6/10.

See Also: The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Requiem, The Antichrist, Repossessed! Read The Full Post HERE!