The Exorcist: Believer (2023) Watch Online Free
When two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, the father of one girl seeks out Chris MacNeil, who’s been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago.
The Exorcist: Believer (2023), directed by David Gordon Green, is the latest installment in the iconic horror franchise, and it acts as a direct sequel to the original 1973 classic The Exorcist. This film follows a father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), as he attempts to save his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) after she becomes possessed by a malevolent demon. As the story unfolds, another young girl, Katherine, also becomes the victim of a similar possession, leading to a race against time to uncover the truth and perform an exorcism before it’s too late.
The story begins when Angela and Katherine, both of whom have recently lost their mothers, fall under the control of a demon. This supernatural force terrorizes the girls, pushing their families to seek help from various religious figures, including Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), the mother from the original film. Despite the Church’s refusal to acknowledge the possession and grant permission for an exorcism, the families turn to Chris for guidance. As the situation grows dire, Chris suggests combining different religious traditions in an exorcism to increase the likelihood of success.
The final exorcism takes place at Victor’s house, but it does not go as planned. The demon tests the families’ resolve by targeting their pasts, and a heartbreaking choice emerges: only one girl can be saved. The climax reveals deep emotional conflicts, including a tragic twist involving the choices made by the parents. The film ends on a note of ambiguity, setting the stage for a sequel in the franchise
The Exorcist: Believer taps into the traditional themes of the series, such as the battle between good and evil, the nature of faith, and the horrors of possession. While it tries to pay homage to its predecessor, it falls short in delivering the same level of fear and atmosphere that made the original a genre-defining classic. The film struggles with pacing and lacks the same terrifying impact, largely because the exorcism sequences fail to introduce anything truly new or shocking
One notable strength is the emotional depth brought by Leslie Odom Jr.’s performance as Victor. His internal conflict about his daughter’s fate adds a layer of complexity to the film, especially as the stakes grow higher. Similarly, the presence of Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil serves as a nostalgic tie to the original, though her involvement feels somewhat underutilized
After watching The Exorcist: Believer, audiences may feel a mix of unease and contemplation. While the film certainly has its thrilling moments, especially for fans of supernatural horror, it might leave viewers with a sense of missed potential. The film’s slower pacing, underdeveloped characters, and lack of truly terrifying moments could lead to a sense of disappointment, especially compared to the original. However, the emotional undertones and the exploration of family and faith will leave some viewers with a deeper connection to the characters and the horror they endure
. The film’s ending also leaves room for curiosity and anticipation for what will come in the next installment.
In short, The Exorcist: Believer provides a more modern take on the Exorcist franchise but may not evoke the same visceral reactions that made the original so iconic. Fans of horror will still find some suspense, but those looking for groundbreaking scares may feel underwhelmed.
