The Exorcistis consideredthe scariest movie ever on a global scale. What makes it so horrifying isn’t an overuse of gratuitous blood, jump scares, or some seemingly unstoppable killer’s rampage,The Exorcistfocuses onthe human psyche. It gives viewers a disturbing look into the darker side of religion, where everyone is fair game, in this case a twelve-year old girl. From considerable controversy to acclaim,The Exorcistquickly turned into not just a horror icon, but a cinematic icon all across the board. It’s hard to beat even with hundreds of horror films following in its footsteps. WithDavid Gordon Green setto direct an upcoming sequel trilogy to the original, here is how the director can makethe reboot trilogy successful.
David Gordon Green investsutmost diligence into casting. From comedies, dramas, to horror, Gordon Green chooses versatile actors to bring his stories to life. Despite the mixed reception his newHalloweentrilogy has received, critics and fans alike praise the performances of seasoned actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Will Patton, and newcomers Andi Matichak and Rohan Campbell; similarly, casting was key toThe Exorcist’ssuccess. Ellen Burstyn portrays a religious skeptic resorting to the last imaginable route to save her daughter. Jason Miller portrays a priest with a conflicted faith due to his dying mother’s plight; his declining faith is further tested when he’s tasked with Regan’s exorcism, unsure if the act will save her.
Linda Blair is the standout performer as Regan MacNeil, a child who goes from silently dealing with her parents divorce to being possessed. Being thirteen-years old at the time, Blair incorporates her innocence into the first act of the film and transforms into Pazuzu in the latter two acts. These actors are irreplaceable, but if someone can find equally talented performers to deliver haunting performances, it’ll be Gordon Green (he’s already securedEllen Burstyn’s inclusion inthe sequel).
David Gordon Green proves he can tackle supernatural concepts with hisHalloweentrilogy, making Michael Myers a personification of infectious evil that spreads from one host to the next,The Exorcistis possession unbound. Pazuzu is relentless not only in its control and torture over Regan’s body; it targets all those around the young girl. From the psychological, physical, and emotional abuse it subjects Chris to, the body counts it claims in its wake, to toying with Father Karras' faith throughout the film, Pazuzu will stop at nothing to retain control of Regan’s body…or find the next suitable vessel as it does with Karras by the film’s conclusion. While not much is known about the villain(s) of The Exorcistreboot trilogy, Gordon Green has confirmed that Pazuzu will play into the film’s plot. As withHalloween Ends, Gordon Green demonstrates that a horror movie can always have more than one villain.
Related:David Gordon Green Wanted to Step Away from Horror Until The Exorcist Was Offered
Chilling Score
Any horror movie is only as good as its score. Gordon Green collaborated with composer/director John Carpenter to create a fresh and chilling series of scores for his newHalloweentrilogy. Hopefully Gordon Green can collaborate again with Carpenter to reinvent the wheel on Jack Nitzche score forThe Exorcist.
Linda Blair’s Return
The Exorcistpaved the way for Linda Blair’s long Hollywood career. FromTheExorcist II: The Heretic, Hell Night, Stranger in Our House, to the paranormal seriesScariest Places on Earth, Linda Blair has become synonymous with the horror genre; the face of horror. With Ellen Burstyn returning to the series, bringing back Linda Blair would be the cherry on the cake.
Related:The Exorcist Legacy Sequel Starring Ellen Burstyn Starts Filming in a ‘Couple Weeks’
Character Development
One of the greatest aspects ofThe Exorcistis character development. Chris MacNeil starts the film a firm atheist, and by its conclusion, accepts that religion played an important part in saving her daughter. Regan MacNeil is a child dealing with a torn family unit that becomes susceptible to an evil force; Regan is the embodiment of trauma in all its forms. Father Karras is a man whose entire life’s work has lost its meaning and ultimately sacrifices himself to evil to save Regan;William Friedkin sets thebar high for any director working in the horror genre. Nevertheless, David Gordon Green has demonstrated his ability at creating compelling, well-rounded characters not only in horror, but in any genre he’s handling.
From the bumbling partners-in-crime turned best friends inPineapple Express, the medieval trio inYour Highness, the mother-daughter trauma dynamic explored in theHalloween 2018andHalloween Kills, to the star-crossed lovers leadingHalloween Ends, David Gordon Green’s characters always have major stakes on the line–he’ll surely deliver the same with hisnewExorcistreboot trilogy.
