Exorcist II - The Heretic

Rating:
Summary: Okay Sequel
Review: This sequel to the Exorcist is not all bad. Linda Blair is back as teenager Regan McNeal, still haunted by spirits; Louise Fletcher (looking embarassed the whole time) is her psychiatrist; Richard Burton as a priest sent to investigate Father Merrin's death (Max Von Sydow puts in a cameo appearance), Kitty Winn as Regan's nanny (she spends almost the entire movie worrying about Regan); and James Earl Jones is wasted here as a formerly possessed victim. I won't give away the plot, but it does answer some questions about some things from the first flick. The musical score is haunting, but the dialogue is laughable & the cast does its best with what they are given to work with. It's easy to see why Ellen Burstin passed on coming back to the sequel. Still, it's interesting to watch.

Rating:
Summary: Introduction to Pazuzu
Review: The tone, the style, the rhythm, the visual effects of this Exorcist II are totally incoherent with the previous film. No subliminal shots were used. As a matter of fact, I found the film is a bit disturbing due to quite alot of hand-held shots spinning you around and some terrible women screaming noise.

Well, after all, it's not really that bad in terms of the storyline. To be fair, it depends on what you're seeking from this film. If you're expecting the horror shocking visual effects and exorcism as Exorcist I, oops...wrong direction. You will be quite disappointed. However, if you watch the first Exorcist and just want to know more what's going on with Regan, how Father Merrin actually died, and who's the demon inside Regan, you should get all your answers from this film. Exorcist II is merely the official introduction to the king of the evil wind demons, Pazuzu.

*** Otto Yuen's DVD Special Rating for Exorcist II ***
1. Film Rewatchability: LOW
2. DVD Featurability: WEAK
3. Picture Quality: VERY GOOD
4. Sound Quality: VERY GOOD

(Reviewed by Otto Yuen, 4-Sep-2004)