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34 of 42 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
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
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Misunderstood, October 29, 2000
Very likely the most misunderstood film in history. Unlike a film by Stanley Kubrick, where a brilliant and symbolic establishment is to be expected, Exorcist II was on a wavelength where such things would not be expected or accepted. The first film's brilliance was in the way it could so shockingly and realistically enthrall us, as if we were experiencing, and being horrified by, the blatant, cold evil ourselves. This is a sequel with only similarity of its characters. Whereas, themes and ideals are conveyed through production design, complex dialogue, and visual composure, in a more artful manor. William Goodhart was clearly attempting to produce such an entity with his screenplay. He was trying to employ the themes relevant to this possession, such as Scientific vs. Spiritualist Idealism. Represented by a psychiatrist (Dr. Tuskin) and a priest (Father Lamont). It is simply a completely dissimilar, almost opposite approach to the theme of Regan's possession. And because it's not simply a continuation of its predecessor, which was so expected, it can not be appreciated.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SO BAD IT'S SUPERB, June 12, 2008
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
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