Mike Flanaganis getting ready to premiere his latest Stephen King adaptation at TIFF next month, and next he’ll be looking to breathe new life intoThe Exorcistfranchise for whathe hopes will be the ‘scariest movie of the time.‘Flanagan is set to take over the series at Blumhouse following the dismal response toThe Exorcist: Believerin 2023, and the subsequent exit of director David Gordon Green. Despite the appearance of original star Ellen Burstyn and a surprise cameo by Regan herself, Linda Blair, the film failed to connect with both audiences and critics, and currently holds just a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Appearing at FanExpo Canada this weekend (viaCollider), Flanagan told a packed house of fans thatThe Exorcistplayed a big part in his formative years as a filmmaker. With the movie widely regarded as one ofthe scariest horror films ever made, he admits that it doesn’t necessarily have the same impact today that it had back in 1973. As such, he’s going into the project with one goal in mind:to make it the scariest movie he can for a new generation of moviegoers.
“The original Exorcist is a formative film for me. I’ve only once in my career felt this feeling of stepping into the shadow of a monolith. I’m already nauseous every day about The Exorcist. When it came out, it was the scariest movie of all time at that time. Modern audiences don’t necessarily connect with the film the same way, somy mission for this is to try to make it the scariest movie of the time. If I can do that, then I hope it will connect with people.”
Why Mike Flanagan Is the Perfect Director for The Exorcist
Getting his start in features with the 2011 critically acclaimed horror filmAbsentia, Flanagan has proved time and time again that he has what it takes to deliver horror movies that linger in the mind of audiences long after they leave the theater.Oculus,Hush, andDoctor Sleepare further examples that he knows his way around the genre, and how to craft tales that – as scary as they may be – also connect on an emotional level.
As if his theatrical releases weren’t enough,Flanagan’s relationship with Netflixonly proved to further cement his status as one of the best the horror genre has to offer right now, with series such asMidnight Mass,The Haunting of Hill House, andThe Fall of the House of Usherall regarded as bona fide classics in a day and age when horror fans are perhaps harder to please than they’ve ever been.
The Exorcist: Every Movie In The Franchise, Ranked
The franchise’s title conjures up fear in viewers’ thoughts, but do the films have a comparable impact?
This bodes well forThe Exorcist, as Flanagan appears to be more self-aware than most, and despite the pressure, knows what he’s getting himself into. The end result could make good on his goal to deliver the “scariest movie of the time,” and perhaps be the director’s greatest film to date. Given his track record, expectations will certainly be at their highest, but it’s that same record that also proves that if anyone is up to the challenge of taking on the iconic franchise, it’s certainly Flanagan.
