Buzz:The Exorcist:The Beginning

Director: Renny Harlin

Writer:William Wisher Jr,Caleb Carr

Cast:Stellan Skarsgard,Izabella Scorupco

Acting:C

Entertainment:D

Rewatchability:D

Overall:D

Beginning of the end is more like it,cause this film didn't have a chance from the get go. For one we all know the problem, Paul Schrader was the original director but the studio wasn't happy that he made a film with suspense but no horror so Renny Harlin(the long kiss goodnight) was brought on board. None for more action sequences,Harlin was allowed to re-shoot and even re-cast the film.Wow,doesn't that get you excited for this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Plot: Set in post world war II Africa,Lankester Merrin(Stellan Skarsgard) is an archaeologist who has lost is faith and meaning due to some horrific events he witnessed by the Nazis. So enter a mysterious man who offers Merrin a large sum of money to investigate after a ancient Catholic Church turns up in an area of Africa where there shouldn't be one.He of course is interested despite his conflicting faith. Once in Africa he is joined by a young priest named Rome and by a beautiful lady named Sarah or should I say a beautiful doctor.

Bad things of course happen soon after,the natives aren't happy and know something evil is there, children are tortured and victimized while horrible looking cgi Hyenas create havoc .The film is very,very slow but no suspense or tension of any kind is built up.Instead the film lumbers along as the audience really isn't interested one bit. It's the complete opposite of the Exorcist which got more and more intense,unsettling and disturbing as the film progressed.We truly could not believe our eyes as to what was happening and it all felt so real .Here in the beginning there is nothing unsettling at all,and we really felt no sympathy towards any of the characters,even the little children.

The final showdown or battle is also quite lame and features a plot twist that you could see coming from miles away.It featured bits of dialogue from the original to try and make the connection but it all seems far too forced.And I almost thought I was watching Spiderman 4 in a cave.

Acting wise,all were forgettable besides Stellan Skarsgard who didn't have much to work with.Izabella Scorupco was nice to look at and she didn't deliver the goods we all wanted to see.

In closing The Exorcist:the Beginning is a film that didn't need to be made and probably was doomed from the start.I think this killed the Exorcist franchise for the time being until some new Hack comes along.So really....forget this film was made.

Buzzline:This movie needs to be exorcised.