Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

Director David Gordon Green
Writers David Gordon Green, Peter Sattler
Starring Leslie Odom, Jr., Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Lidya Jewett, Olivia Marcum, Ellen Burstyn

The thought of the guy who made the visually spectacular but completely underwritten Halloween trilogy of films taking on a new trio of another classic with a spotted sequel history did not entice this viewer in the slightest. Then I discovered he’d convinced another original heroine out of rertirement to rejoin the series. Even then, it felt like a dirty trick, meant to draw those of us who’d long ago given up the idea that there could be a decent sequel, aside from the accidentally brilliant Exorcist III, from the studio-interfered hands of original author William Peter Blatty.

If one comes to The Exorcist Believer to see Burstyn save the day in her 8th decade will find the story disappointing. Her role feels like nothing more than an extended cameo. The rest of the film is better than one might expect,

Odom, Jr. and Jewett are father and daughter Victor and Angela Fielding, leading a happy life shrowded in an historic sadness. When Angela and her friend Katherine (Marcum) head off from school one day and disappear for three days, the parents are drawn together in the search for their daughters. At this point, friends and neighbors offer help and condolences through their particular faith mediums. Victor is less receptive than Katherine’s parents due to his particular life experience.

Once the girls return, their parents soon discover no matter what their beilefs or lack therof, they will be tested.

The imagery throughout the first two acts shows that Gordon Green studied Friedn’s work. Even if it is overly familiar, it is still moving, due primarily to the acting of Odom, Jr. and Jewett. Dowd exists primarily to deliver exposition connecting us to earlier events. They give her more to do in the well intentioned but messy climax, but it is obvious that the author wanted a vessel to explain what we are seeing and why it is happening. If he were a more assured director and writer, this would not be necessary.

Still, there is enough here to warrant a sequel, even if one cannot see this film as necessary in the first place. If they can find room for the Fieldings in the sequels, as well other characters only thouched on here, this viewer will definitely check the sequels.
(*** out of *****)