Exorcist II: The Heretic

Play trailer

1:42

Exorcist II: The Heretic

R

Released Jun 17, 1977

1h 57m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

10%

Tomatometer

68 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The 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

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…it takes real talent to make a truly awful movie; viewing Exorcist II is like viewing the ruins of a temple to an unknown god, a brain-boggling, dreamlike, profoundly mystifying experience…

Rated: 2/5

May 15, 2025

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Here’s an interesting question: when it comes to sequels, which would you prefer? A boring success, or an interesting failure?

Rated: 4/10

Jan 23, 2025

Full Review

David Reddish

CBR

Watching a director attempt something wild and different, even when they fail, will hold interest more than any decent but mediocre and forgettable movie ever could. Call this particular sequel a disaster, but don’t call it boring.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 19, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Nick O

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!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

Full Review

babarizam D

I think this movie is highly misunderstood because it doesn't fit in horror genre. A great investigative work of The Exorcism performed in previous movie .

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/25

Full Review

Alexander S

No one knows what’s happening in the film. Exorcist II: The Heretic lulls us into a trance with its convoluted plot, which is filled with a series of random, bizarre sequences that have nothing to do with The Exorcist, intended to give this film’s scares, but they only serve to highlight the film’s poor writing. Another instance where a film is so bad that it can be watchable because of its sheer awfulness. Grading: D-

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

Full Review

Buzz C

COME FLY THE TEETH OF THE WIND!!!! Exorcist 2 The Heretic is a misunderstood gem! The soundtrack is beautiful and the movie is brilliant! Pazuzu's Regan is the only Regan! If you don't like this movie you have bad taste!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

Full Review

Dan R

1977 saw the first sequel to 'The Exorcist' with the 'Exorcist II: The Heretic'. SYNOPSIS: 'A teenage girl once possessed by a demon finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, a priest investigates the death of the girl's exorcist.' Proof that even the best intentions don't lead to successful sequels and that even amazing acting talent can't always carry a movie. The film is a perfect mix of tedium and hilarity, and it's easy to understand why audiences back in the day actually threw items at the screen. Yes, that actually happened. I'm not sure if Richard Burton is hamming it up, can't be bothered or is completely drunk out of his brain during filming, or all of the above, but his performance must be seen to be believed. What a shameless, awful follow up to one of horror's greatest moments this film is. An inept sequel. 4/10

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

Full Review

CodyZamboni Z

Embarrassing, Silly, Pointless, And ultimately very sad, Given the talent involved, to come up with this laughable mess, that is the most shocking thing about this movie.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/18/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Deadly Friend

20%

38%

Deadly Friend

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Deadly Friend

The Hand

29%

28%

The Hand

Watchlist

The Exorcist

78%

87%

The Exorcist

Watchlist

J.D.'s Revenge

50%

63%

J.D.'s Revenge

Watchlist

Phantasm

73%

67%

Phantasm

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Phantasm

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Exorcist II: The Heretic: Trailer 1

1:42

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now