Exorcist II: The Heretic poster

1977·118 min·Released

Exorcist II: The Heretic

“It's four years later... What does she remember?”

Horror

Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a research specialist free her from its grasp?

4.5(800 votes)

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Original Trailer

Cast & Crew

Richard Burton

Richard Burton

Father Philip Lamont

Linda Blair

Linda Blair

Regan MacNeil

Louise Fletcher

Louise Fletcher

Dr. Gene Tuskin

Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow

Father Lankester Merrin

Kitty Winn

Kitty Winn

Sharon Spencer

Paul Henreid

Paul Henreid

The Cardinal

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones

Older Kokumo

Ned Beatty

Ned Beatty

Edwards

Belinda Beatty

Belinda Beatty

Liz

Rose Portillo

Rose Portillo

Spanish Girl

Barbara Cason

Barbara Cason

Mrs. Phalor

Tiffany Kinney

Tiffany Kinney

Deaf Girl

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talisencrw

Written on 10/7/2016

I have all the respect in the world for John Boorman--his 'Point Blank' and 'Deliverance' are excellent--but this sequel to one of the greatest horror movies ever made simply falls listless and flat. Of course, the script is extremely talky and lifeless--as if it had been 'exorcised' of all the wonder and shock that William Friedkin's vision of the battle of good vs. evil would entail. Yes, Sir Richard Burton was a great actor--yet when shoehorned with a crappy script and with his more irritating peccadillos left unrestrained, he can be such a chore and bore to watch. Though I have not seen the two more recent 'prequels' for the 'Exorcist' franchise, I can safely say that while 'Exorcist II' is not the worst horror movie ever made (that, by the way, never seemed its intention), it's certainly the worst of the original trilogy--and by a country mile. This is a work that would probably bore the demons so much, they would decide to get out of Regan MacNeil's body, and perhaps even leave Earth's plane altogether, never even wanting a return ticket.

tmdb28039023

Written on 8/25/2022

One of the many things that make The Exorcist arguably the greatest horror films ever made – or simply one of the greatest films ever made, regardless of genre –, is that it has no use for the obligatory final shot suggesting that the evil will continue. On the contrary, it ends on a hopeful, optimistic note; a welcome relief following the ordeal we, characters and viewers alike, have just endured. Exorcist II: The Heretic carries on as if that final shot had actually been there all along. It's not just that Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) must go back to dealing with Pazuzu four years after the fact – meaning that two good men died for nothing –; it's how this reencounter comes about. Once we accept the possibility of demonic possession, everything else in The Exorcist is perfectly plausible. The Heretic, on the other hand, comes up with a "synchronized hypnosis" device that leads to such ludicrous dialogue as "Your machine has proved that there's an ancient demon within her!" That this line is delivered by a frantic Richard Burton – who could achieve greatness with the right material – doesn't do it any favors. All things considered, the only heresy on display here is what director John Boorman does to the source material (in fairness to writer William Goodhart, his script was apparently rewritten beyond recognition) – I did, however, really enjoy the metaphorical use of locusts, which can go from solitary and harmless grasshoppers to, well, Legion.

Media

Directors on Exorcist II

Directors on Exorcist II

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Original Trailer

Original Trailer