Second Viewing: The Exorcist III (1990)

This is a sequel that has no real right to be as good as it is. Made 17 years after the original and 13 years after the disastrous second entry (which it ignores completely), it’s difficult to imagine anyone being truly excited about this when it came out. But it has earned its cult status over the last 30 years because of the fantastic performances (especially Brad Dourif’s), the wonderfully mannered direction, the creepy atmosphere, and perhaps the best jump scare in film history.

I really do appreciate this movie. It’s something completely different — not just in comparison to the original Exorcist, but to most horror movies in general.

It’s not directed like a horror movie, and of course it’s not really directed like a film at all. It’s directed like a novel, if that makes any sense, and of course it is directed by novelist William Peter Blatty. His dialogue is incredible, and the way he handles the camera is quite unique.

The movie does have a few kind of silly moments (the celebrity cameos standing out among some other things), but overall it is a very serious, thoughtful film. It’s an incredibly effective psychological horror film.

Rating: 7/10