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The Exorcist Believer, is the Legacy Sequel a Worthy Successor?

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Fifty years has passed since the original film had audiences walking out of their showings and had them reinforcing their faith. Director David Gordon Green and co-writer Danny McBride are fresh off their Halloween trilogy which has some mixed reviews but concluding the Jamie Lee Curtis timeline was rewarding for fans of the original film. Now the duo goes from the most success horror franchise ever to the scariest.

The Exorcist Believer revolves around the disappearance of two young girls. Mystery surrounds their return while supernatural events begin occurring in the days after. What David Gordon Green does best is build the tension in his films which most horror films tend to skip over and replace with your usual jump scares. Something he also succeeded at with his Halloween trilogy. In this regard, his film feels like a horror film from the good old days.

The first half of the film is near perfect. With performances from stars such as Leslie Odom Jr. and the rest of the supporting cast setting up the eerie plot while the musical score elevates every scene beautifully. Ellen Burstyn is a welcoming addition to the story. Her presence feels genuine. Had she been shoehorned in, this half would fall apart completely. Where the film struggles is where even the original had some issues, the exorcism itself.

I say the original struggled due to the fact that there is no blueprint to how this should go. How long it should last, how to depict when we’ve accomplished what needs to be done, or how to keep audiences engaged while reciting Bible verses for what seems like an eternity. The latest film has some interesting elements such as bringing together people from different faiths and backgrounds that all have ideas on how to confront this evil. It’s quite an intriguing premise which makes sense as you begin to understand every culture has written stories about similar situations.

In some cultures it is said that pregnant women are asked for a blessing from Pazuzu for protection. No doubt a nod that was made in the opening scene of the film. While the community battling the demon is an intriguing idea, it never fulfills its potential. The visuals are done well enough but the film needed more action but again, how does one achieve this within an exorcism? That is the challenge. The second half mildly works but the momentum from the first half definitely had subsided.

Many attempts at a worthy sequel have been made but two things are for sure…what scared audiences in 1973 isn’t the same today and to reach that level of horror isn’t possible with modern audiences. The Exorcist Believer can still be considered a success regardless.

Ted aka Steady is a film critic and the managing editor forCountdownCityGeeks.com. He has covered some of the largest pop culture events in the world including SXSW and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also hosted a variety of events such as eSports Tourneys, film festivals, to moderating panels for some of the biggest names in entertainment including Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson and Giancarlo Esposito.

Movie Reviews

Final Destination Bloodlines – This wild horror film takes you down memory lane where it all makes “cents”. (Movie Review)

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While patiently waiting and strategizing over a decade, the mysterious entity of Death finally settles the score. Final Destination Bloodlines takes you back to 1968 where it all began. Brec Bassinger makes a solid entrance in the film portraying the young Iris Campbell – The root of all chaos from messing with predestined mortalities.

Richard Harmon takes charge of holding the film together with his role as the rebellious Erik. Harmon knows how to deliver the fright in this arrogant heavily pierced character.

Final Destination Bloodlines has a great storyline, but unfortunately, the remaining cast seemed sapless like twigs.

On the other hand, watching Tony Todd’s last film appearance as William John Bludworth brought out emotions in the theater.  The mystifying backstory of Bludworth was revealed along with his connection to Death’s design – those last words were haunting.

Final Destination Bloodlines is all about the details. It focuses on the small elements that trigger the chain of events making it “crystal clear” the characters will slip through the cracks trying to defy Death. The numerous disaster scenes are truly worth watching in IMAX format. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein made great use of the color red throughout the film, with an excellent choice of needle drops to set the tone for the characters’ gruesome fatality. One moment I was singing and in a split second screaming.

Nonetheless,  this movie has many shocking twists and plenty of blood splatter to keep horror fans gasping and on the edge of your seat. Unlike the other films in the Final Destination series, this one blends in humor to relieve the tension to create an elevating viewing experience. It also brings back the original tactics that Death had planned to put into motion – careful driving behind a trailer hauling massive logs.

Just like the overall basis of the series, no matter how hard  the characters tried to escape and challenge their fate, Death’s retribution ultimately concludes in Final Destination Bloodline.  

Final Destination Bloodline will be released in theaters May 16, 2025.

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In theaters May 9th is the fascinating sci-fi film, ‘Watch the Skies’ – Review

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Watch the Skies is a heartfelt sci-fi film with a remarkable ensemble cast, showcases the impressive talent of rising star Inez Dahl Torhaug. The story centers on a young protagonist as she unravels the mystery surrounding her father’s disappearance years before. This all happened while he was conducting investigative work on UFOs. The film balances whimsical and quirky moments with deeply profound emotional scenes that are captivating.

A unique blend of British-European humor and sci-fi adventure, Watch the Skies draws inspiration from a real-life Swedish extraterrestrial research group. Sci-fi enthusiasts will find themselves particularly well-equipped to enjoy this charming and thought-provoking cinematic journey.

Synopsis: A rebellious teenage woman’s father went missing years ago and she believes that he didn’t run away but was abducted by aliens. She joins forces with a funky UFO club made up of a lovable group of weirdos and rejects. Together, they embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the boundaries of the law and ultimately, our world.

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Blake Lively brings extravagant fashion to this murder-mystery comedy movie in ‘Another Simple Favor’ – Review

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When it comes to making a grand entrance in a movie , Blake Lively definitely kills it in Another Simple Favor. She looked sophistically stunning in those posh outfits and lavish shoes! Lively really steals the spotlight portraying the charming and deceptive Emily Nelson / Hope McLanden who disrupts Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) during a book reading to ask for a simple favor. Kendrick is a master in emerging into roles of the sweet, impulsive and vulnerable characters.

This saga takes place in the beautiful Island of Capri, where the extravagant wedding of Emily (Lively) to the handsome Italian mobster Dante Versano (Michele Morrone). When Aunt Linda (Allison Janney) makes a surprise appearance with Emily’s deranged mother Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins), well you know sparks will be bursting. Stephanie (Kendrick) is determined to seek answers to the mysterious occurrences and disappearance of Emily. The plot thickens with mind-bending, jaw-dropping twists, which leads the possibility of a trilogy.

The entire cast was amusing. This movie has a lot of dark raunchy humor, which at times could be a bit “tmi”. From feuding scenes with Henry Golding as Sean Townsend (Emily’s ex-husband) to Blake’s bedroom scene where she playing a dual role – uncomfortable, awkwardness. However, it received plenty of laughter from the audience.

Another Simple Favor will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1, 2025. It will sure be a great suggestion for a girl’s night movie party.

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