CinemaBravo

‘The Exorcist: Believer’ mainly focuses on Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), whom he raised on his own after his wife’s death in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago. However, when Angela and her friend Katherine (newcomer Olivia Marcum) disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil.

The film delivers jump scare after jump scare while faithfully capturing the essence of the original. It earns points for attempting to take the franchise back to its terrifying roots while providing a chilling and gripping, more modernized experience that will keep its audience on the edge of their seats, craving more. The drama and the father-daughter relationship are among its highlights. It not only scares its audience but also brings a touch of emotion that might make you shed a tear or two. It’s a film that will make you a believer! Its chilling and emotional story will leave you contemplating the nature of good and evil and the price we are willing to pay to protect the ones we love. A good scare and a respectable sequel indeed.

Although the film explores various forms of exorcism, which is a rarity in today’s horror genre landscape, creating a compelling blend of horror and drama, this sequel becomes a bit lacking when the actual exorcism happens. It becomes overwhelming and doesn’t add another layer of thrill to the story. Nonetheless, there are still many great elements to appreciate, such as the flawless locations, excellent art direction, and set design. Story-wise, it is refreshingly diverse. The tension is palpable, and you almost feel the presence of a spirit around you. There are plenty of jump scares before the actual exorcism, but that’s about it. One standout feature of the film is the return of Ellen Burstyn, who effectively lives up to the terrifying reputation set by the first film 50 years ago.

“The Exorcist: Believer” brings new and creative ideas while wonderfully capturing the spirit of classic horror. This gory, haunting, and visually unsettling sequel to one of the greatest horror films of all time is unquestionably a must-watch, especially in IMAX!