The Exorcist: Believer

This bone chilling sequel will leave you squirming

By Jillian Nelson

Although wrapped up in a blanket, I was shivering in my seat from the sheer chills The Exorcist: Believer sent down my spine. Rather than relying on jump scares, the film’s frightening moments are slow, quiet, and pervasive. The terror steadily burns and slowly infects the mind with theological horror.

The film sets a tenuous rhythm that isn’t rushed but doesn't drag on either. Sitting at this uncomfortable tempo allows the film to crawl under the skin, creating incessant anticipation that never lets up. The narrative culminates to the classic exorcist scene in which Olivia O’Neill and Lidya Jewett, playing the possessed Katherine and Angela, give wonderfully disturbing performances that will make you squirm.

The film breaks away from contemporary horror’s centering of demons as a character, keeping its identity ambiguous and focusing all energy on how the demon takes form in the girls. This draws attention to the horrifying practical-effects work as the girls slowly decay. Taking a modern twist, the film also challenges that only male Catholic priests can perform exorcisms, a notion represented in the original. In the final exorcism, several religions are represented, and women take the lead on performing the rite. The only place this movie falters is fully delivering this message as the ending of the film ultimately undermines it.

Despite this, I highly recommend seeing this film to get into the season’s scary spirit. Just take care knowing that the atmosphere and subject matter are not for the faint of heart.