Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

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I expected the worst from Exorcist: The Beginning for a myriad of reasons

(the other Exorcist sequels sucked, and this one has been sitting around on

a shelf for well over a year) and was mildly surprised when it didn't stink

up the joint. In that regard, you can call it the Queen of the Damned 2004.

The Beginning is a prequel, actually - set in 1949 Kenya, where a young

Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård, King Arthur) has his original encounter

with The Big D. And I ain't talking about diarrhea, kids.

The whole Merrin thing was probably lost on the folks I saw The Beginning

with, since none of them were alive when the original Exorcist film was

released (you know, back before priests were despised). There were a

handful of nice connections between the two pictures, and also some things

directly borrowed (or "inspired by") the first. Like a possessed kid, a

priest full of doubt in his faith, and a certain statue that made me piss

the bed when I was little. But there is new stuff, too. Like a love

interest (Izabella Scorupco, Reign of Fire), World War II flashbacks, and

babies made completely of maggots.

Fans of The DaVinci Code who can't wait for the film adaptation of Dan Brown

's book might have some fun with The Beginning. Its main character is an

archeologist-slash-expert in religious iconography, and its story revolves

around Vatican cover-ups and conspiracies. Fans of Freddy vs. Jason might

dig it, too, since the possessed individual in this one runs around killing

people in the final act. Is it just me, or did the Devil-Regan's reach not

seem quite as long?

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