The Exorcist III: Not Really a Sequel, But a Taut Horror/Thriller
Photo credit: Morgan Creek
The Exorcist is the scariest movie of all time. Its sequel, The Exorcist II is an unintentionally funny crapfest. The third installment, The Exorcist III, however, is a decent watch.
The Premise
The friend of late Father Karras(Jason Miller), Lieutenant Kinderman(George C. Scott), is investigating a series of grisly murders. Every murder has a different set of finger prints. Adding to his mounting fear is the fact that the murders also bear the trademarks of the notorious Gemini Killer(Brad Dourif). This is impossible for two reasons: the trophies the killer took were kept secret from the press, and the Gemini Killer was executed fifteen years earlier.
At a mental hospital, Kinderman is introduced to Patient X, an amnesiac that was found wandering the streets years ago. He was catatonic until recently, when he became violent.
Meeting the man, Kinderman is shocked to see he strongly resembles his late friend, Father Karras. Is he Father Karras? The man claims to be the Gemini Killer reborn.
Now Kinderman must find the killers, find out who Patient X really is, and stop a demon and a madman from striking again.
Is It As Good As The Exorcist?
Nope. Nothing can beat the original(but if you want to expand The Exorcist‘s universe, watch the Fox TV show-not the cinematic 2000s prequels).
This isn’t really a sequel as such. Except for Jason Miller, none of the original cast is in this movie. Don’t think of it as a sequel. Think of it as The Exorcist adjacent.
That, and the fact that the exorcist in the title was tacked on at the end.
Two Words: Jump Scare
If for no other reason, watch this movie for the most famous and frightening jump scare of all time. Don’t google it, that takes it out of context!
Final Thoughts
A strong cast and story holds this movie together. There is gore, jump scares, and-oh yeah: Fabio and Samuel L. Jackson in brief cameos.
The Exorcist III is available on some streaming services and DVD/Blu Ray.
