The devil works hard, but director David Gordon Green works harder. Having just spent the last several years revitalizing the “Halloween” franchise, the filmmaker has since taken his talents to “The Exorcist” movies for the foreseeable future. The first of a planned trilogy of new movies, “The Exorcist: Believer” follows the deeply horrifying demonic possession of two young girls (Lidya Jewett and Olivia O’Neill) after becoming lost in the woods. Exhibiting worrying signs that nobody can explain, the children’s parents, played by Leslie Odom, Jr., Jennifer Nettles, and Norbert Leo Butz, turn to the only expert who can help: Ellen Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil. As you can probably tell from the hair-raising footage, things don’t quite go as planned.
Directed by Green from a screenplay credited to co-writers Green and Peter Sattler (from a story by Green, Scott Teems, and Danny McBride), “The Exorcist: Believer” has all the makings of taking the biggest swing yet in the franchise. Pazuzu’s back, Ellen Burstyn is reprising her original role and hellbent on helping new unfortunate victims out of an eerily similar jam, and things are freakier (and gorier) than ever. Instead of just one demonic possession to worry about, this time around brings the crisis to two girls … and, as this newest trailer emphasizes, our heroes will be hard-pressed to save both of them.
“The Exorcist: Believer” scares its way into theaters October 6, 2023.