The Exorcist (2021)

Ed and Lorraine are back on the hunt for demons once again. Here are my initial impressions.
The film’s structure follows a black-and-white pattern; you essentially get this blend of a family thriller mixed with sudden bursts of horror designed to catch you off guard. You'll have about five minutes of lighthearted small talk before everything descends into curses, demons, and blood. I suspect this pacing is the work of a new director—it worked well enough for me, though it might not sit right with everyone. I honestly don't know how they managed to land Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, but it has to be one of the greatest pieces of casting in cinema history. These two are absolutely carrying the entire movie on their shoulders. It's hard to find anyone else to compare their performances to, but the first thing that comes to mind is Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln... As for the rest of the cast, they are just okay. Eric did a decent job playing Anna. My biggest gripe, however, is that we actually learn nothing about the antagonist—how this all started or why it's happening...
They say life writes the best stories. Even if you think this stuff is all nonsense or just religious tall tales, clear your head of any prejudices because it’s worth the watch. It is slightly weaker in certain spots, as nothing can easily replace the weight of a true dark priest.

Disclaimer: you've probably realized by now that I am completely biased.

So, I just finished watching The Exorcist in the theater—and frankly, I don't think I'll be able to sleep without leaving a lamp on for at least two or three nights... It was quite unsettling. Though, if I’m being honest, I found The Nun to be a bit more intense in its atmosphere.

All things considered, I’m quite satisfied with the result. The narrative is arguably the strongest element here, and I actually appreciate that it takes a different direction compared to the first two installments. That said, the horror sequences could have benefited from more creativity, and the dramatic beats felt much more impactful in the previous films; because of that, I didn't find myself connecting with the characters quite as deeply this time around. The atmosphere, however, is dark and genuinely unsettling. There isn't any unnecessary filler or wasted runtime, so even though the movie clocks in at nearly two hours, the time passes very quickly. While it might not be a masterpiece, it still stands out as one of the better horror films released lately. 7/10.

Honestly, they should’ve just called this one *Bone Cracker*. It was pretty mediocre—I mean, look, James Wan is a total master at what he does, and he can usually take even a shaky script and turn it into a legit horror flick—but here, the whole concept felt super forced. Since it feels like studios are just pumping these kinds of movies out on an assembly line lately, it’s getting harder for any of them to actually stand out from the crowd. The only saving grace is that we actually get real lead actors here instead of some random faces, which makes it way better than those silly flops like *La Llorona* or *Noah*.

Grace Sanchez50 said:Maybe they should have just called it Bone Cracker: The Godfather... honestly, it’s pretty mediocre, though I guess since James Wan is such a pro, he could probably squeeze something decent out of a subpar script, but since Hollywood started churning these out on an assembly line, it feels like nothing stands out anymore... I suppose the only saving grace is that the leads actually use their real names, which makes it slightly less mindless than La Llorona, Noah, or whatever other nonsense they throw at us...

;

I feel like all these movies are basically clones and you forget them immediately; honestly, I can barely tell the difference between The Exorcist, Insidious, or the Sinister series anymore, especially when it's always the same actor
There isn't anything truly "scary" about these flicks; they just toss in a few jump scares here and there, but that’s a far cry from actual good horror that sticks with you.

I totally forgot to mention this—I was really expecting that heart attack at the start of the movie to be this looming, constant threat hanging over the lead character's head. But instead, he’s just out there sprinting, jumping around, saving the lady, swinging a sledgehammer... it felt like there was zero connection to the fact that he could literally drop dead from his condition at any given moment.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will probably die of old age before they finish filming another sequel

It’s an interesting watch, though not exactly terrifying to me. I actually found myself laughing at a few parts.
The first one is still my favorite.

Total garbage. Honestly, what a waste of time. The plot was all over the place, the acting was nonexistent, and the dialogue felt like it was written for a toddler. It wasn't scary at all—not even close. If I'm being generous, I'll give it a 3/10.

The first one was hands down the best.

Joshua Diaz10 said:I have no clue how they tracked down Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, but seriously, that’s some of the best casting in history. Honestly, it feels like the whole movie is just being carried on their backs again.

Truth. I actually sat through the whole thing just because of those two. They are incredibly magnetic—that final scene where they share a kiss? For a second there, it felt less like acting and more like real life.

As for the actual flick, it didn't really blow me away. James Wan set the bar so damn high that anyone else trying to follow him is basically hitting a brick wall. The horror beats feel way too over-the-top and fake, and that parallel dimension thing? Too convenient. You open one door and boom, you're suddenly in another world. It's lazy. But hey, even with all those flaws, Vera manages to pull it together with her killer performance.

But man, even this hype is gonna die down eventually...

1.7🙂3.3

Grace Sanchez50 said:I totally blanked on this earlier, but I really expected that heart attack right at the start to be this constant, looming threat hanging over the main guy the whole time. Instead, he’s out there sprinting, jumping around, saving the lady, swinging a sledgehammer... like, what? It felt like there was zero connection to the fact that he could drop dead at any second...

he was possessed back then.

Personally, I think him using that cane is actually pretty sick. It adds this layer to the movie, you know? Like this extra obstacle that he can overcome just through sheer willpower and grit. ☕

Patrick Martin said:It’s true—honestly, those two are the only reason I didn't turn this thing off halfway through. They have such incredible chemistry; that final kiss felt less like acting and more like a genuine moment.

As for the movie itself? It didn't exactly blow my mind. James Wan set the bar so high with his previous work that it feels almost impossible for anyone else to clear it. The jump scares feel over-the-top and just plain unrealistic, and the whole "parallel dimension" concept is handled way too literally—you open one door and suddenly you're in another realm. It lacks subtlety. But hey, Vera Farmiga manages to carry the weight of those flaws with her stellar performance.

But even that won't last forever...

1.7🙂3.3

If it wasn't for Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, I would have given this a zero out of ten. With them, it's a solid 3/10. Honestly, they are far too talented to be wasted on movies like this. That talent is actually why the first installment (and arguably the second) worked so well. Especially Vera.

Ghost movies? Honestly, they’re only interesting if you’ve somehow lived your entire life in a vacuum and have never seen one before. For everyone else... it’s just like opening a mass-produced can of Starkist tuna. Completely predictable and desperately boring.

I wasn't even aware the movie was slated for release.

Then one day, I happen upon the title, and my immediate instinct is to just skip 🤣

This is easily the weakest link in the trilogy. Honestly, it’s just bad. The plot feels totally diluted, and that sense of tension we were looking for? Completely gone.

It’s the same deal as *The Nun*—just a lot of hype for absolutely nothing. ☕