As a seasoned movie buff with over three decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that the saga of the two prequels to The Exorcist is nothing short of intriguing. Having witnessed countless remakes, reboots, and alternate versions in my lifetime, I can’t help but appreciate the audacity of having two separate films telling the same story, albeit from different perspectives.
Initially, The Exorcist wasn’t intended to launch a series, but after its remarkable success in 1973, events took an unexpected turn. A sequel was produced four years later, the critically panned Exorcist II: The Heretic, followed by another third installment, the much-improved The Exorcist III, after a 13-year gap. After this, the series lay dormant for over a decade before resurfacing in the 2000s with… not one but two prequels.
Indeed, The Exorcist didn’t just have one sequel but two: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist and Exorcist: The Beginning, both available on Peacock now. Both films delve into the origin of Father Lankester Merrin, the character played by Max von Sydow in the 1973 original. Unlike a two-part saga or two unrelated stories, these prequels each present a distinct take on the same story, directed by different individuals with their unique interpretations. In fact, even Zack Snyder’s pursuit of the definitive version of Justice League didn’t stretch quite as far as this.
Hey there! As a huge fan, I’ve been wondering – how on earth did this journey unfold? We have not one but two prequels to the chilling Exorcist series, and I can’t help but ask: what sets them apart? Let’s dive in for a closer examination.
The First Exorcist Prequel
The narrative commences around 1990, with producer James G. Robinson being responsible for the screen adaptation of “Exorcist III”. In a short span of time, he sought methods to maintain the series’ vitality. By 1997, Robinson had conceived a prequel idea and enlisted the help of William Wisher, known for his work on “Terminator 2”, to draft a script centered around Merrin’s initial encounter with exorcism. Following revisions by Caleb Carr, creator of “The Alienist”, renowned director John Frankenheimer (of “The Manchurian Candidate”) agreed to direct the film and cast Liam Neeson in the role of Merrin.
Things are going well, aren’t they? However, here’s where things take an unexpected turn. According to “The New York Times”, Frankenheimer became involved with the film in 2001 following his reading of Carr’s script. Unfortunately, his health was deteriorating. By 2002, the ailing director had to step away from the project, and Neeson departed along with him. By July of that year, Frankenheimer had sadly passed away at the age of 72, leaving both the film without a director and a leading actor. However, remember the names Wisher and Carr as they will be credited throughout the movie’s duration.
In the midst of potential film cancellations, Robinson persisted with the support of Morgan Creek’s head, Guy McElwaine. They enlisted Paul Schrader, a renowned writer/director recognized for his work on films such as “Taxi Driver” and more recently, “The Card Counter” and “First Reformed”, to join the team. Though Schrader hadn’t directed a major studio production since “Cat People” two decades prior, he was intrigued by the prospect of an “Exorcist” prequel. He signed on for the project, casting Stellan Skarsgard as Merrin. By autumn 2002, they were all set to begin filming. So, it seems we’re back on schedule.
Initially, during the main filming period, what was shown might have held true. However, when Schrader presented Robinson with the first edit of the movie, the producer expressed dissatisfaction instead.
In simple terms, Robinson expressed to The New York Times that the movie wasn’t frightening enough for his taste. He also mentioned that the particular scene he had viewed wouldn’t be effective.
As a gamer, I was handed a week to polish a fresh cut of the game, but it didn’t meet the producers’ expectations either. So, they brought in another editor to work on the game without me, which left me feeling a bit isolated. Time ticked by, and I tried to regain control, even asking for a chance to redo some levels, but that wasn’t in the cards. My game, in their eyes, just didn’t deliver the intense horror-focused experience they had envisioned.
Robinson expressed that he believed he had given his utmost effort, and he conveyed to him that we valued his contributions. However, we are currently in the process of looking for a replacement as our new leader.
In conversation with The New York Times later on, Schrader expressed it as follows: “Ultimately, it boiled down to a feeling of regret from the buyer. Robinson watched the movie and felt compelled to purchase another one.
In other words, Robinson sought out his latest movie project, and it seemed like Schrader’s recordings were temporarily absent from the scene, at least initially.
The Second Exorcist Prequel
Eventually, Robinson selected Renny Harlin, renowned for movies like “Die Hard 2” and “Cliffhanger”, to direct his new prequel concept. This was after Harlin proposed the prequel as something that could incorporate more horror elements, increased action, and a more commercially appealing narrative. Given the circumstances, it became apparent that the initial release date in summer 2003 would not be feasible. As a result, Harlin started revising Wisher and Carr’s script, collaborating with several writers, including Alexi Hawley who received screenwriting credit for the final film. Wisher and Carr were given a Story By credit on the finished movie.
Instead of merely requiring minor revisions for select scenes, director Harlin viewed it as a comprehensive overhaul – an opportunity to construct his unique rendition of the narrative from its very foundation.
Harlin expressed that they were pondering: How can we enhance it? Is it possible to add some thrilling sequences to heighten the suspense?”, according to the Los Angeles Times. He responded, “To create a chilling movie, one must begin anew.
Harlin followed through by retaining only Skarsgard from Schrader’s original cast, renovating the sets according to his requirements, and commencing filming towards a summer 2004 release date at the end of 2003. Due to the persistent rumors of the “Exorcist” curse, Harlin even had to direct while using crutches for several weeks after a car accident that fractured his leg. Fortunately, this time Robinson was content with the final edit. The prequel, named “Exorcist: The Beginning,” was eventually premiered in August of 2004.
But of course, that’s not the end of the story.
The Two Prequels
In the end, Exorcist: The Beginning garnered a global revenue of $78 million, surpassing its production cost and bringing in additional profits. However, the critical reception was unfavorable. During the movie’s opening weekend, director John Schrader, accompanied by William Peter Blatty, recognized an impending chance for improvement.
In an interview with The Independent, Scrhader reminisced, “I was examining this, thinking to myself, ‘This is quite terrible. If it continues like this, I have a feeling there’s a possibility I could bring mine back.’
Eventually, Morgan Creek granted Schrader’s request. Seeking to recover their investment after producing two films, they approached the filmmaker about releasing his take on the story. The prequel to the Exorcist, titled Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, hit home video shelves in the spring of 2005. Although the reviews weren’t universally positive, it did garner some praise, with renowned critic Roger Ebert among its supporters.
To put it simply, despite having similar themes, these two movies differ significantly in their storylines. The primary character in both films embarks on a journey following the horrors of World War II, with one pursuing archaeology and temporarily leaving the Church. They both encounter an ancient evil while exploring a hidden church site in Kenya, which requires them to confront dark forces affecting the local villagers and approaching British soldiers. Notably, the character meets his father again during this journey, transforming back into Father Merrin, who is known for his exorcism abilities in one of the films.
As a dedicated fan, I must admit that Harlin’s rendition of the classic tale significantly ramps up the horror elements compared to the original script. Instead of subtle hints, it delivers jump scares and grandiose demonic scenes throughout Merrin’s voyage. The climax sees an epic confrontation with a terrifying demon deep within the church’s subterranean passages. This version is not shy about its horror roots, and it definitely adds a touch of thrill to the story.
In the movie “Dominion”, the narrative delves into a more intellectual exploration. Schrader skillfully revised Carr and Wisher’s script into a tale about a man grappling with the harsh truth of everyday wickedness, viewing it as something tangible and undeniable, while also subtly introducing a more covert and sinister evil. Although it contains its fair share of frightening moments, these scares are less jarring, eschewing sudden jumps and leaning more towards character-driven suspense, which is characteristic of Schrader’s work.
Which one’s better? Well, it all comes down to your preference in terms of the approach, but the general consensus is that Schrader turned in the more thoughtful, emotionally interesting film. But no matter which version you prefer, what remains true is that The Exorcist ended up with something basically no other major horror franchise has ever gotten, two versions of the same story delivered by very different filmmakers, both of which we can go and watch right now. It’s a fascinating moment in horror history, and serves as proof that there’s something about this world and these characters that just refuses to leave the public imagination.
As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that you can now stream the chilling prequel, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, and its predecessor, Exorcist: The Beginning, right here on Peacock!
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2024-09-09 17:32