Exorcist II: The Heretic

R

Released Jun 17, 1977

1 hr. 57 min.

Horror

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List

11%

65 Reviews

Tomatometer

13%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Critics Consensus

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

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GPhonse257

Maybe not quite the worst horror movie ever made, but it's definitely the worst of the Exorcist movies. I felt that this movie was cheesy, and the storyline lacked substance for me. The first Exorcist movie was one of the best horror movies ever made, and it's sequel (Exorcist II: The Heretic) was one of the worst horror movies ever made.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

Full Review

Lou T

Following up one of the greatest horror films of all time, the sequel could not be further from the quality of the first film. Coming in at nearly 2 hours, you will feel every excruciating second of this lackluster film as you try to figure out why any of this ties into the original. The script could not be bothered to put in much effort, the effects team fell asleep at the wheel, and the writers found themselves producing an African documentary instead of a horror film. Until the last 15 minutes, there is nothing horrific, scary, or even unsettling. As a lover of films, and specifically a lover of bad films, this was nearly unwatchable and had me checking the time every few minutes in a fight to turn it off early. I cannot understand how they got this so wrong and I fear I may need it exorcised from my mind.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

Enzo g

Filme horrível uma piores continuação que deve ter em um gênero de horror

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/15/23

Full Review

KerryWhite's S

Rating: 4/10. 49/100

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Mu S

É tudo muito confuso, não dá pra entender nada, além de não ter a essência do original, foi uma continuação sem necessidade alguma de ser feita, além da atuação extremamente forçada e ridícula.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

Csar Rodrigo C

Considering it's one of the worst rated movies, my expectations were so low that it actually surprised me how "good" it turned out to be. It's not the absolute crap people say it is. Still, it feels weaker towards the end, has ridiculously bad effects and as everybody knows, it's far from reaching the original's glory.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/26/23

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John Boorman

Director

Linda Blair

Regan MacNeil

Richard Burton

Father Philip Lamont

Louise Fletcher

Dr. Gene Tuskin

Max von Sydow

Father Merrin

Kitty Winn

Sharon Spencer

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Exorcist II: The Heretic: Trailer 1

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

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.

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

David Robinson

Financial Times

A rather costly load of old nonsense, distinguished mainly by fine colour photography.

Oct 27, 2021

Full Review

David Pirie

Time Out

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.

Oct 27, 2021

Full Review

Kayleigh Donaldson

Pajiba

The final product may not equal the sum of its parts but those disparate parts are striking, daring, truly bananas, and driven by a filmmaker eager to make something truly unique, and not just in comparison to its predecessor.

Oct 9, 2023

Full Review

Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

The script is so ridiculous that they should have gone all out for laughs in the first place.

May 5, 2023

Full Review

Donald McLean

Bay Area Reporter

The dialogue invites hoots of derision and audience catcalls, and director John Boorman strives to be intellectually scary and only succeeds in turning a former shocker into a current piece of shlock.

Oct 27, 2021

Full Review

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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
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
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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