Underrated Horror Movies: Exorcist III

I have long believed Exorcist III to be one of the most underrated horror films of all time. It's part horror and part who-done-it and has fine acting performances from George C. Scott and the always fantastic Brad Dourif.

George C. Scott is Lt. Kindermann, a Georgetown detective on the case of a serial killer targeting religious leaders. (Scott takes over the role of Kindermann from Lee Cobb.) The extreme nature of the murders isn't the worst part, however. The murders strongly resemble those of the Gemini Killer. The problem is, Gemini Killer died fifteen years prior to these murders.

Kindermann's investigation leads him to a mental hospital where he finds "Patient X", portrayed by Jason Miller. (Miller played Father Damian Karras in the original Exorcist.) Kindermann is astonished at the patient's resemblance to his friend Father Karras, who was presumed dead after Reagan McNeil's exorcism. And it is here we discover something truly sinister is going on as Patient X is now possessed by the same demons vanquished from Reagan. As fans of the first film will remember, these demons are quite the motherfucker to get rid of.

Brad Dourif plays the possessed version of Patient X and once again completely nails it. Imagine Chucky on PCP and this is what Dourif's performance was like. It's beyond chilling and one of the creepiest performances I have ever seen in a horror film. Dourif makes his demonic possession look real and so intense you can feel the hatred these demons have for God. It will bring chills up your spine.

Now, we all know a mental patient isn't leaving the hospital to commit murders. So obviously the demons are jumping into other bodies to carry out the murders and returning to their host in the mental ward who may or may not be Father Karras. This makes catching a killer a bit difficult, wouldn't you think? But Kindermann persists and with the assistance of Father Dyer (another returning character from the original) they chip away at the demon's hold on Patient X. Father Dyer is played here by Ed Flanders who takes over the role from William O'Malley. Flanders is brilliant, especially in the scenes he shares with Scott.

Also providing fantastic performances in smaller roles are Nicol Williamson and Nancy Fish.

Exorcist III is a suspenseful and creepy movie. It has just enough gore to give viewers an idea of how malevolent the demons are. The acting is fantastic. It is truly a sin how underrated this movie is and how few people have actually seen it. Do yourself a favor and check your local used DVD store for this film. You won't be disappointed. After all, Jeffrey Dahmer claimed this film as his all-time favorite. If that doesn't make you want to see it...

Pay close attention for cameos from Larry King, Fabio and Samuel L. Jackson.

Exorcist III was written and directed by Willam Peter Blatty.


Thanks for reading, it is much appreciated. I hope your Halloween season has been fun. And as always, if you cannot be a poet, be the poem.


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The Rebirth of Evil Dead

So, Sunday afternoon I was able to see the the re-imagining of Evil Dead. Now, granted it didn't have Bruce Campbell looking like a scared confused puppy dog, but there would have been no way to recapture that magic. However, the re-imagining was worth the 1-hour and 40-minutes of my Sunday afternoon spent in a darkened theater.

Now first off, I have this to say about both the original Evil Dead and the new version: If you are in a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere and you find a book of ancient spells bound in human flesh, LEAVE IT THE FUCK ALONE! Now that being said, first time director Fede Alvarez delivers with buckets of blood and an edge-of-your-seat uneasiness. Will it be a career builder as the original was for director Sam Raimi? I would bet against it. Alvarez will have to prove himself with original material to cement a career. Marcus Nispel and Alexandre Aja are a couple of upstart directors who have accomplished little since directing a remake of a classic horror film. (Although Aja's Mirrors is an underrated film.)

The basic story is the same as the original, a group of young men and women take some time to themselves in a remote cabin. This time, it's to help a young woman quit cold turkey. Of course they find some weird shit in the basement, including the "Book of the Dead". And as irony would have it, the brainiac science teacher of the group is the one who reads aloud from the book, unleashing the demon who takes possession first of Mia, the recovering addict. And one by one, the others in the group get possessed, tortured and taunted.

The violence in the re-imagining is far beyond anything in the original film. By far the most the most disturbing is the oral-masochism involving an straight razor. But the electric knife is a close second. The gallons of blood dispersed in this movie are a sight to see and will have all horror fans grinning ear to ear. And yes, there is a chainsaw.

I'll be the first to admit I haven't liked most remakes of classic horror films. (Think Psycho, Friday the 13th, The Omen and Fright Night, just to name a few.) Evil Dead's re-imagining has given me faith good remakes of classic horror films are possible. I can't say I have faith the upcoming remake of Carrie will be anything more than a steaming pile of shit.

So, if you want to see a gory and fun horror movie and you don't mind it's a re-imagining of a campy classic, the go check out Evil Dead. And you hardcore fans, make sure to stay and watch the credits until the end. Just sayin...