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Exorcist II: The Heretic

Play trailer 1:42 Poster for Exorcist II: The Heretic R 1977 1h 57m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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10% Tomatometer 69 Reviews 13% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Owing to his experience with exorcisms, Father Lamont (Richard Burton) is chosen by his superiors to investigate the death of Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), who died during the exorcism of young Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair). Lamont finds Regan under the psychiatric care of Dr. Tuskin (Louise Fletcher). By hypnotizing the girl, he is able to learn that Merrin previously exorcised the same demon from a boy in Africa. Hoping for answers, Lamont travels to Africa in search of the youth.
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Exorcist II: The Heretic

Exorcist II: The Heretic

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Critics Consensus

Hokey mystical effects, lousy plotting, and worse acting directly tarnishes the first's chilling legacy.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/18/2023
There’s enough visual magic in it for a dozen good movies; what the picture lacks is judgment -- the first casualty of the moviemaking obsession. Go to Full Review
David Robinson Financial Times 10/27/2021
A rather costly load of old nonsense, distinguished mainly by fine colour photography. Go to Full Review
David Pirie Time Out 10/27/2021
The theme is attacked with engaging intensity, and Boorman brings off more than one visual coup (notably the ingenious locust photography in the African sequences). Dennis Wheatley fans, at least, will love it. Go to Full Review
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Linkin E @LinkZuh Dec 13 I Think I’m The Only ‘Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)’ Lover. I Know There’s Only About 5% People Who Love This. And One Of Them Is Me. It’s Directed By John Boorman. And Absolutely No Input From Creator William Peter Blatty Or Original Director William Friedkin. Anyways. It Brings Back 2 Characters From The Original ‘The Exorcist (1973)’. Regan MacNeil And Sharon Spencer. Now, I Seen It From Start To Finish. Okay, The Only Thing That Had Me Disappointed Was The Quality. But It Was Fine, It Was A Good Film. And It Was A Bit Good As The Original. Loved It From Start To Finish. See more Sep 21 It is an alright movie, but not on the level of the first one. They should have casted Mrs. MacNeil. And the story and direction could have been much better... See more Alec B @AlecMichaelB Sep 6 Exorcist II: The Heretic is a baffling, disjointed sequel that squanders the chilling power of the original. I struggled to stay focused throughout the entire movie, and the plot was so mishapen, it drowns viewers in incoherent mysticism and stilted dialogue. The film’s special effects feel dated and awkward, even compared to the first film. The returning cast is talented, but they still couldn't salvage the clunky pacing or bizarre tonal shifts. See more Matheus P Aug 16 Exorcist II: The Heretic is, without a doubt, a major disappointment. The film bears little to no meaningful connection with the original classic The Exorcist. Its narrative is disorganized, confusing, and lacks coherence, resulting in a storyline that fails to engage or captivate the audience. The screenplay is exceedingly weak, the special effects are ill-conceived, and in many instances only worsen the viewing experience. The lack of consistency is evident in virtually every aspect of the production, rendering it a chaotic and poorly executed film. In short, Exorcist II: The Heretic fails on all fronts: it does not entertain, it does not frighten, and it certainly does not honor the legacy of its predecessor. It is a work of such poor quality that it arguably should never have been made. See more Kid R. @Philadelphiagoosebumpsfan Aug 4 Wow this is why sequels shouldn’t exist See more Nick O Jun 9 A truly bizarre piece of WTF cinema! Seriously, this flick is out to lunch. Especially when you put it next to the first film…but hey, who doesn’t love a spectacle! See more Read all reviews
Exorcist II: The Heretic

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Movie Info

Synopsis Owing to his experience with exorcisms, Father Lamont (Richard Burton) is chosen by his superiors to investigate the death of Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), who died during the exorcism of young Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair). Lamont finds Regan under the psychiatric care of Dr. Tuskin (Louise Fletcher). By hypnotizing the girl, he is able to learn that Merrin previously exorcised the same demon from a boy in Africa. Hoping for answers, Lamont travels to Africa in search of the youth.
Director
John Boorman
Producer
John Boorman, Richard Lederer
Screenwriter
William Goodhart
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 17, 1977, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Runtime
1h 57m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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