The Exorcism

CinemaSerf

2024-06-20

⭐ 5

Clearly the Pope wasn't so impressed with Russell's last outing as his exorcist so abandoned the project to some new producers who have decided he might do better as an dissolute actor ("Anthony") cast to play a priest who is an exorcist. Unbeknown to him, though, we know that the studio set is home to a malevolent spirit - who saw off his predecessor (or perhaps he just volunteered) - and is now determined to cause more mischief. Luckily, director "Peter" (Adam Goldberg) has engaged the services of a real priest (David Hyde Pierce) to authenticate the clerical aspects of the film as "Anthony"…

Oh dear, poor Russel Crowe. He's a more than decent actor, so its a shame to see him in a film this uninspiring. Washed up alcoholic actor with PTSD (as a result of church based child abuse) takes on the lead role of priest in an Exorcist horror film, only to become the subject of his own demonic horror. Its not a great premise to start with not helped at all by its grim back drop of a struggling actor father, with a long suffering daughter, who is forced to adopt a parental role. Its more depressing and sad, than terrifying, adding to the generally leaden vibe, this flick gives off. …

I didn’t have high expectations for The Exorcism, and my initial confusion about whether it was a sequel to Russell Crowe's other exorcism movie from last year (The Pope's Exorcist, 2023) didn’t help. However, the first two acts of the film were surprisingly intriguing. The atmosphere and the mysteries being built throughout the story captured my interest, creating a sense of foreboding that kept me engaged. The film does an excellent job of establishing an eerie atmosphere that is both unsettling and captivating. The cinematography and set design contribute to a sense of creeping dread, wi…

The Exorcism is more of a psychological drama than a straight-up horror film, and that’s where it finds its strength. Russell Crowe delivers a compelling performance, and the film’s exploration of addiction, guilt, and redemption gives it emotional weight. However, as a horror movie, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The scares are minimal, the supernatural elements lack depth, and the finale feels too familiar. If you’re in the mood for a character-driven story with a sprinkle of horror, The Exorcism is worth a watch. Just don’t expect to be sleeping with the lights on afterward.

JPV852

2026-06-22

⭐ 3

Not hard to see why this sat on the shelf for a few years but what is surprising is the studio sunk more money to salvage this dreadfully dull supernatural horror film. Not entirely sure why Russell Crowe was in this unless he just wanted to try new things and maybe was bored or something. Also interesting to see Sam Worthington falling to third billing behind Ryan Simpkins. The third act is just laughably bad. **1.5/5**