Product Details

• Actors: Richard Burton, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn
• Directors: John Boorman
• Writers: John Boorman, Rospo Pallenberg, William Goodhart, William Peter Blatty
• Producers: John Boorman, Charles Orme, Richard Lederer
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Georgian, Chinese, Thai
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: August 6, 2002
• Run Time: 118 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (192 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000067FP5
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,530 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Exorcist II: The Heretic (Snap Case)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This sequel to the Oscar-winning horror film based on the novel by William Peter Blatty was virtually laughed off the screen when it came out in 1977. It was an unintentionally hilarious mishmash and received such terrible reviews that director John Boorman yanked it out of theaters. He reedited it, cutting eight minutes in hopes of getting the story (written by William Goodhart) to the point of coherency, to no avail. The film remains a kind of reverse gold standard for sequels. It's still a ridiculously overacted, although at times visually haunting, movie. Richard Burton stars as a troubled priest (something of a specialty of his) who is brought in to follow up on the case of Linda Blair, who is institutionalized, still troubled by her encounter with the devil (who wouldn't be?). By the time they confront Satan's minion in the final struggle, you'll be rooting for evil to win. --Marshall Fine

Product Description

The fearful follow-up about a demonic spirit's determined quest to reclaim the sould of regan four years after her original exorcism and the battle waged against evil by obsessed priest richard burton and hypnotherapist louise fletcher.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Sequel More Than Lives Up To The First Film!!!!!, August 30, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Exorcist II - The Heretic [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Exorcist is a masterpiece of horror and a winner of two academy awards (for best director and best adapted screenplay). This sequel won an award too. It was voted as the second worst film of all time at the Golden Turkey Conventions. Why is this? I love this movie! It wisely keeps the storyline of the first going (unlike William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist 3, which completely departed from the original story). It also has three returning cast members from the first. It has Kitty Winn returning as Sharon Spencer, Max Von Sydow as Father Lancester Merrin, and, of course, Linda Blair as Reagan MacNiel.
The plot takes place in many different areas around the globe, including Africa, India, Georgetown, and New York. The beggining scene involves a young woman who is being possesed and needs an exorcist. Father Phillip Lamont (Richard Burton), a good friend of the late Father Merrin, attempts to exorcise the woman, but she commits suicide using a bunch of candles. We then get to see how Reagan MacNiel (Linda Blair) is getting on with her life. She is now doing dance compititions nearly every day, and sees a psychiatrist (Louise Fletcher) as well. Reagan remembers her possesion, but refuses to talk about it with anyone, and they all assume that she doesn't remember (even at the end of the first one, Chris MacNiel, her mother, said she didn't remember, but I think she was faking). Father Lamont is instructed by the Cardinal (Paul Henried) to investigate the death of Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow). Lamont goes to the hospital where Reagan stays, and questions her doctor, asking if she remembers anything. The doctor dosen't want to ask Reagan, because she's afraid that it will trigger a shock, and Reagan will attempt suicide. However, they use a special mind machine to dive into her head and see. What they do see is a man (James Earl Jones) fighting a tiger. Lamont finds out that that man is Cacooma, who was once possesed by Pazuzu, and exercised by Father Merrin. Desperately, Lamont attempts to track down the man and question him.....
Exorcist 2 The Heretic is a brilliant movie. Why it is so hated by review criticts is beyon me. It has an interesting style, brilliant camera movements, and gorgeous music (Reagan's theme is beautiful). The movie seems to have a bit more of a plot than the first (although the first is terrific), and a better story going for it. Linda Blair is great as 18 year old Reagan, and Fletcher is good as the no-nonsense doctor, but Richard Burton's performance is a little bit cheesey ("I saw it- it was horrible, utterly horrible") but he's still fun to watch. Although Von Sydow dyed in the first film, he's here in flashbacks, and footage of the exorcism in Africa. This one isn't really scary, although I don't think the intention was to be scary. Also, the 118 minute version is MUCH better than the 110 minute version. The 118 minute one goes deeper into the charecter's developement, and includes a different ending. I do not know why this movie hasn't gone onto DVD yet, but this VHS is bad. The color is drained, and the picture is mudgy. But, it's the only version available, so LIVE WITH IT!!!!
If you enjoyed Exorcist 2 The Heretic, I would also recommend The Exorcist, Damien Omen 2, Jaws 2, and Halloween 2.
Exorcist 2 The Heretic is Rated R For Some Violence, Brief Language, Brief Gore, and Small Nudity.
PS If you found my review helpfull, please vote for me!!!!!
Brett Michael Roberts

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SO BAD IT'S SUPERB, June 12, 2008

By	B. Lafave "parisconcert" (lakeland , fl) - See all my reviews

must see TRUE CULT trash with an A-LIST budget , HORRIBLE writing , HILARIOUS dialog , SOME pretty good acting (LOUISE FLETCHER) , some GOOD cinamatography and LAUGHABLE effects . MULTIPLE viewings REWARD the adult readers of NATIONAL LAMPOON (the magazine) crowd . lots of mis-placed FUN . enjoY.....OH , and LINDA BLAIR had a GREAT BODY

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A grotesque bomb!, November 11, 2002

By	Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

I had the misfortune of actually seeing this bomb when it was released into movie theatres in 1977. I still recall endless streams of people exiting, muttering, "what garbage!" and complaining about how chillingly dismal this film is. Now, re-watching it after 25 years, I can affirm positively: this is one of the worst films ever made.

Linda Blair is a blowsy, boring, catatonic actress. Her scenes are beyond wretched. But the absolute clincher of bad is Richard Burton, delivering an incoherent performance in which this notorious over-actor overacts to the point of hilarity. There are several scenes which call for him to use subtlety in dealing with the fragile Blaire. Well, subtlety and Burton simply do not mesh on the acting screen and he screams lines which should be phrased delicately and demurely. You will laugh out loud at how pathetic a display Burton puts on. His scenes with Blair and Fletcher will cause you either to wince or double over with laughter.

If you are one of those types who revels in large budget monstrosities, this is your baby!