DOMINION: PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST (2005)

Now this is pretty strange.  From what I can tell, when the first director turned in his Exorcist prequel to Morgan Creek they didn't care for it and had somebody else remake it.  That was the "The Beginning" version I reviewed yesterday.  That movie was kinda lame and probably didn't make any money, so then Morgan Creek decided to dust off the rejected version and release that also!  That's this version.  Weird huh?  What they should have done it use the budget to both of these films and just make another version of the first film with a teenage girl screaming all kinds of foul filth flarn filth flarn filth with green vomit shooting out of every orifice since that's what audiences have been waiting on in an Exorcist sequel for forty friggin years now and still hasn't received.

Naturally, at the beginning of the film I was more than a little bit confused as to why this film seemed so much like the last film, but once I figured out it was just another version of the same story I actually liked this version better even despite the fact the special effects were quite terrible.  Once again, Stellan Skarsgard plays Father Merrin who after a traumatizing event during WWII leaves the priesthood and focuses on being an archeologist.  Blah, blah, blah there's a buried church in Africa and he has a showdown with Pazuzu, except that the demon is never called Pazuzu in this version.  He's just a nameless demon.  Anyway, much like the last film there isn't much demon action and what there is is pretty tame.

Honestly, even though I liked this film better than The Beginning I still can't see any reason to run out and watch it if you've already seen The Beginning.  Yeah, it looks better, the story makes more sense and the acting is even better but still it doesn't add enough to the overall Father Merrin story to justify wasting two hours on it.  For hardcore Exorcist fans only.  If you haven't seen either version though, this one is the one to watch.


Original trilogy
Part 1 - The Exorcist (1973)
Part 2 - Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Part 3 - Exorcist III (1990)

Prequel films
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

Sequel trilogy
Sequel 1 - The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2004)

Set some time between WWII and the early 70's of the original film, EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING finds a young Father Merrin (this time played by Stellan Skarsgard) as a archaeologist who is called to go check out the discovery of a church in Africa that predates the infestation of Christianity in the area.  A traumatizing event during the War caused him to take a sabbatical from the priesthood, but what he finds in this ancient church leads him to return to his faith.

Those looking for an all out demon possession-fest will once again be disappointed, but those looking for a little bit of information about the relationship between Father Merrin and Pazuzu will find it interesting.  That's really about it.  The discovery of the church could have been super creepy, but instead it was pretty weak with nothing but computer-generated jackals and local tribesmen acting scared.  Finally at the end there's a little bit of possession action.  Zero nudity, very little gore or blood, light pacing with no real ups or downs, good acting.  On the one hand I was disappointed with the lack of excitement or scares, but on the other hand I kinda enjoyed learning a little bit more about Merrin's past.

Half-hearted recommendation, but for Exorcist fans only.

[Update: I just discovered that Part 5 is also the same story just a different director.  Yeah, that's pretty weird, but while it isn't that much better I did prefer that version over this one.]

Original trilogy
Part 1 - The Exorcist (1973)
Part 2 - Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Part 3 - Exorcist III (1990)

Prequel films
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)

Sequel trilogy
Sequel 1 - The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

LE CHOC (1982)

I don't know what it is about hit men, but it seems that all of them want to quit their job.  Usually after one last one big score. 

Professional assassin Alain Delon does his one last job, but when he tells this criminal bosses that he's through they tell him no, he knows too much.  He kills the assassin sent to kill him then escapes out to the countryside where he meets the beautiful Catherine Deneuve on a turkey farm.  (I'm gonna go start hanging out at turkey farms!)  Naturally, even though she's married she falls for the studly Delon.  More people show up to kill him and now he goes on the run with Deneuve.

With any other actress I probably wouldn't have even given this film a chance, but I'm a sucker for Deneuve and because of her alone I liked this movie.  The story is highly unbelievable, but with two great leads it's still a fun ride with a nice romantic twist on the old retiring assassin story.  Recommended although it could have definitely been spiced up with some bigger action scenes.

 The condition of these horses piss me off.