Shudder Will Soon Remove Unsung Horror Sequel That’s “Even Scarier than the Original”
The Exorcist has long been touted as one of the scariest films ever made. Some would even call it the scariest. William Friedkin’s adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s novel about a young girl possessed by a demon struck fear into audiences everywhere. No one had seen anything quite like it before. And no film has managed to re-create that terror through a possession narrative. Well, except one…The Exorcist III.
At this point, the conflicts that grew between Friedkin and Blatty during the production of The Exorcist are infamous. Each had different views on how exactly to approach the story, leading to quite a bit of tension. Lucky for the rest of us, the film turned out to be a masterpiece. But in 1990, Blatty was given a chance to tell his story his way with The Exorcist III. You could argue that what resulted is even more frightening than the 1973 original. If you’ve never seen it, you’ll want to act soon, because the film leaves Shudder this month.
What’s The Exorcist III About?
Based on Blatty’s 1983 novel Legion, Exorcist III picks up some time after the events of the first film (mercifully eschewing Exorcist II from the timeline). In it, police lieutenant Kinderman (this time played by George C. Scott), begins an investigation into murders that replicate those of the deceased Gemini killer (Brad Dourif). The case leads him to the patients of a psych ward, where he discovers an old friend’s soul trapped by a terrible darkness.
What Others Are Saying
In his column “The Overlooked Motel,” Dread Central’s own Tyler Doupe´ referred to The Exorcist III as “even scarier than the original.” Tyler adds that he wouldn’t call the sequel the “better” of the two films, but does believe it offers the better scares.
A Chilling Follow-Up to a Classic
Following up on one of the most revered horror films ever made contains its fair share of challenges, yet Blatty proves more than up to the task. From the opening seconds of Exorcist III, the sequel establishes an unsettling atmosphere rivaling its predecessor. The filmmaker lures audiences in with an almost mesmerizing pace that makes the sequel feel more like a nightmare than reality. Careful craftsmanship allows Blatty to suck the viewer in so deeply that when terror does suddenly strike, it comes as such a jolt that it’s one of the few films to ever have my nothing-scares-me ass leaping out of my seat. One moment in particular is considered one of the greatest jump scares ever to grace the screen.
But it’s not just the eerie tone or Blatty’s impressive ability to surprise the audience. As the insidious villain, Dourif delivers perhaps the best performance of his career. Certainly, the most frightening. Sorry, Chucky. Broken nose taped, skin glistening with sweat, eyes at full menace, Dourif brings the full force of his acting power to the role. If it were up to me, he would’ve won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Alas, he wasn’t even nominated. Though he did receive a Saturn Award nomination, so I suppose that’s something.
Rest assured, The Exorcist III acts as an exceptional continuation of what came before. Once lost to time, the film has roared back over the last two decades into “gem” status. Stream it now on Shudder, but don’t wait too long. The film leaves the streaming service on November 30th.
For more horror recs, you can find me on Bluesky @werematt.
Categorized: Streaming News
