Review of Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) by Anthony S — 09 Mar 2004

[font=Verdana]It?s hard to believe this is the sequel to one of the greatest horror films of all time. It?s even harder to believe John Boorman, the director of both [i]Deliverance [/i](1972) and [i]Excalibur [/i](1981), could have masterminded such a poor production. In [i]The Heretic[/i] Linda Blair resurrects her role as Regan MacNeil, but only to show off her new voluptuous and sexualized body. Meanwhile, Richard Burton plays Father Lamont, a disciple of the now deceased Father Marrin, who is trying to clear his teacher from a posthumous accusation of heresy. [/font].

[font=Verdana]Most sequences from this film are simply intolerable, while others surprisingly possess a definite poetic charm. Notably defective is the showdown between Father Lamont and the demon Pazuzu, in which the house in Washington gets literally torn to pieces. After watching this showdown I was left wondering why priests always resort to punching demons. Isn't this supposed to be a spiritual war? Of course, the most embarrassing defect of the film is its repeated use of synchronized hypnosis as a vehicle for telepathic transference, a pill not even the actors seemed to swallow.[/font].

[font=Verdana]Ironically, it was a scene induced by the synchronized hypnosis that produced the film?s most memorable and poetic moment: a particular vision involving an aerial journey through Africa on the back of a locust. Also of interest are several short clips of a possessed African boy being exorcised by Father Marrin. It could be argued that these valuable scenes involving the locusts and the African possession are evidence of the film?s unrealized potential.[/font].