ROTTEN TOMATOES: Schrader's Exorcist Prequel Gets a Release Date

Schrader's Exorcist Prequel Gets a Release Date

by Scott Weinberg | April 14, 2005

Remember all the hoopla that surrounded last year's "Exorcist: The Beginning"? How the execs didn't like Paul Schrader's cut so they hired Renny Harlin to do the whole movie pretty much from scratch? And how the movie ended up, well, pretty bad, even after all that trouble? Well now we can see how "unreleasable" Schrader's original version actually is, because WB will be releasing it (in limited release) on May 20th.No word yet on what this version will be called, but Variety says that WB is leaning towards "Dominion: A Prequel to the Exorcist." (Also no word on if WB is kidding about that title or not.)

Related Items

Celeb:	Paul Schrader
	Renny Harlin
Movie:	Exorcist: The Beginning

(1-15 of 15 posts) | Reply

denkyu writes:
on Apr 14 2005 11:55 AM

so the movie sucks, they hire someone who makes it better and it still sucks, then now they're releasing the original sucky version after the "improved" but still sucky one bombed?! seriously... this is a new low... unbelievable.

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ettarre writes:
on Apr 14 2005 11:56 AM

They released this under the title Exorcist: The Prequel in Europe. Why not do the same in the US?

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ettarre writes:
on Apr 14 2005 12:02 PM

In reply to this comment (#821384)
[b]Reply to denkyu[/b]
The studio decided the first version sucked, not a test audience (or any audience for that matter). The studio stated that the movie was too intellectual and not gory enough (based on the articles that I read, which I'll allow may be inaccurate). Considering that the first Exorcist was as much intellectual as gory, I'm more interested in seeing this version than Exorcist: The Beginning. Just because the studio panned the movie doesn't mean it sucks. Many studios are renown for putting out crap rather than quality in favor of what they think will bring in the almighty dollar. Too bad people fell for it with Exorcist: The Beginning.

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jarek writes:
on Apr 14 2005 12:35 PM

[b]it is good[/b]
As someone who has seen this version, I must state that it is a much stronger film than Harlin's. It's like comparing Once Upon a Time In The West to The Matrix though, they are that different a film. Sure, they both star Stellan Skarsgaard, but that's pretty much where the similarities stop.

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skletonkee writes:
on Apr 14 2005 12:46 PM

[b]im so excited...and i just cant hide it..im about[/b]
excellent!! i cant wait to see this...hearing that the amytiville film went furthest away from realism into pop-schlock it will be nice to finally see an adult horror film thats not a remake of an asian film...

go get em Schrader!!

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Prosper761 writes:
on Apr 14 2005 01:49 PM

[b]Harlin's a Hack[/b]
Are there any good films made by Renny Harlin? If so, I've yet to see it. "Exorcist: The Beginning" was an exercise in gross-out blood and guts. Does anyone need to see a maggoty still-birth? Schrader's film was deemed "too intellectual" by the morons who approved Harlin's sickening, unscary and quite silly version. That should tell you something about the mentality of Hollywood executives. Is it any wonder they still give money to directors like Uwe Boll? Thank God for independant films!

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jarek writes:
on Apr 14 2005 02:30 PM

[b]Uwe Boll[/b]
Actually, nobody in Hollywood finances Boll. He has a network of German financers that pay for his movies to be made, then gets US companies to distribute them.

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cgcbooks writes:
on Apr 14 2005 06:11 PM

[b]Renny Harlin[/b]
Renny Harlin directed Die Hard 2- Die Harder. Great Film.

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maul_83 writes:
on Apr 14 2005 06:23 PM

No one can top The original movie, but I'll see this since the Harlin version sucked really really badly. So they take the original director, let him release it, and then stuff it on a date where it will surely be trampled under Star Wars' reign? Good show of faith on their part.

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topher4 writes:
on Apr 15 2005 04:58 AM

Watch it turn out to be a lot better then the one they released. That would be funny.

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renodc writes:
on Apr 15 2005 06:28 AM

In reply to this comment (#821386)
[b]Well Said[/b]
I have been waiting anxiously for this DVD release of the Schrader Exorcist Prequel mainly because of the fact the Studios hated it. Studio Execs have long been known to have the opinion that movie fans are idiots and couldn't possibly enjoy anything the least bit intellectual. Instead, they tend to believe all the public wants is mindless violence, watered down plot and weak dialogue interspersed with the occasional one-liner. That's why they brought Renny Harlin on the film in order to "dumb down" the story and "juice up" the action because when it comes to fast paced mindless action in the abscense of story, Renny is King, and ultimately that's why the Harlin version was so bad because the Exorcist is all about story and well placed and timed tension. Schrader's version may end up sucking, but knowing that the Studios panned it based on the fact it was too intellectual, I'm willing to give it a shot if for nothing else than to stick it to the Studios.

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Prosper761 writes:
on Apr 15 2005 09:23 AM

In reply to this comment (#821391)
[b]What?!?[/b]
Die Hard 2 is a great film? Wait, I'll bet you like Steven Seagal movies...

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Ophiuchus writes:
on Apr 15 2005 08:10 PM

In reply to this comment (#821390)
More fool them.

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scottybarkbark writes:
on Apr 18 2005 02:48 PM

i actually liked the prequel. it freaked me out big time

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skletonkee writes:
on Apr 18 2005 04:26 PM

[b]ebert sees and likes it[/b]
he mentions in this weeks Q&A the following:

The Schrader version is a very good film, strong and true. It is intelligent about spiritual matters, sensitive to the complexities of its characters, and does something risky and daring in this time of jaded horror movies: It takes evil seriously. It will have a limited theatrical run next month before a DVD release.

--i cant wait for his full review of the film.

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