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Any sequel to one of the great horror films of all time is bound to leave audiences at least somewhat disappointed. That said, The Exorcist III is a surprisingly better sequel than you might imagine — especially after the dreadfully misconceived Exorcist II: The Heretic. William Peter Blatty, author of the original book, writes and directs, and achieves a casting coup by putting the great George C. Scott in the lead role.
Scott plays a police lieutenant who gets roped into a mystery after three grizzly murders hit Georgetown, D.C., including the death of a close friend and priest (Ed Flanders). The victims are killed in a manner befitting the Gemini Killer, who was sentenced to death over fifteen years ago. The investigation leads Scott to a local psychiatric ward, where one of the patients claims to be the Gemini — and appears to Scott in the body of Father Karras (Jason Miller), the priest who vanquished the demon Pazuzu by hurling himself down the steps at the end of the first film.
The Exorcist III is an engrossing supernatural mystery that gives Scott the opportunity to provide another commanding performance, with shades of vulnerability and even a bit of welcome dark comedy. While it’s nowhere nearly as disturbing as the original film, Blatty imbues this sequel with oodles of compelling atmosphere and several charged interactions between Scott and the Gemini, played interchangeably by Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Wise Blood) and Jason Miller. Dourif is terrifying and award-worthy here — lending the film the bulk of its creep factor in a way special effects and jump scares never could. Scott’s character tries to learn how the Gemini is able to continue his string of murders while behind bars, and Blatty offers a satisfying, surprising answer to that question.
Then there’s the scene. Anyone who has already seen The Exorcist III already knows what scene I’m talking about: a long take, pointed down a long hospital corridor, just watching staff people go about their business in the middle of the night… Until Blatty delivers the film’s most memorable scare with a visceral quick-zoom at a sudden, imminent murder scene. It’s so original and well done, I’ve never seen it imitated (at least not yet).
The Exorcist III unfortunately experienced studio interference and reshoots resulting in a final act that feels rushed and incomplete. A priest character played by Nicol Williamson (Excalibur) gets precious little screen time and feels shoe-horned into the movie as an afterthought. But the film is solid up until that point, and certainly worth a look for horror fans. I suspect if the film had no connection to the original Exorcist, it might have enjoyed broader appeal at the box office upon its original release. Instead, it’s been slowly reevaluated over the past few decades as more than just a cash-grab. It’s spooky in its own right.
With Scott Wilson and Nancy Fish as memorably odd, off-putting hospital staff.