Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Exorcist: The Beginning
2004
**
Director: Renny Harlin
Cast: Stellan Skarsgard, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy, Remy Sweeney

In the beginning of The Exorcist we learned that an archeological dig in Africa was the source of the possession. Now we go back there to witness Father Merrin encounter the demonic presence for the first time. The introduction is promising and the picture, which was shot by Vittorio Storaro, looks stunning, but as the cheap scares and clichés begin to pile up it becomes obvious that this prequel has nothing new to add to the franchise. In fact the making of this movie is a far more exciting story: Paul Schrader, the original director was sacked and Renny Harlin reshot the whole thing. Schrader's version was released in 2005 as Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist.