Blumhouse Productions resurrects one of the most iconic horror films of all time by adding a sequel to it with The Exorcist: Believer. Directed by David Gordon Green who is best known for the recent Halloween trilogy.

This sequel follows a photographer, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), as he tries to work and be a single parent to his 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett). Victor’s daughter is somewhat of a miracle child. Her mother passed away during childbirth due to a natural disaster that happened when the couple was on vacation. We are then introduced to Lydia’s friend from school Katherine (Olivia O’Neill). As the two meet at school, they come up with a plan to go into the woods next to the school and attempt to reach out to the other side to see if Lydia can connect with her mother. Instead, something far more sinister answers and possesses both of them. Now, Victor must team up with multiple religious figures and Katherine’s parents to save the children. Victor also receives help from Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) who dealt with the same kind of issue back in the 1970s when her daughter, Regan, became possessed. Can Victor save his daughter? Or will it be too late?

Let me start off by saying this film is not worth your time. It hurts to say that, but it is the complete truth. There was nothing in this film that made me jump out of my seat form pure terror. It felt uninspired from start to finish and when everything was done, I just sat in my seat and thought, “That was it?”. The acting was subpar to say the least and sometimes very comical when it wasn’t trying to be. I didn’t feel any emotional connections to the characters because they all felt like they were playing one specific note. There was no range in emotions that made me feel what they were feeling. Now, let’s talk about the story. It was a very simplistic plot that really didn’t focus on the exorcist part of the film. That doesn’t happen until the very end. When you have the name “exorcist” in the title I feel like that should be the whole plot of the movie. Don’t just throw it in at the end and call it good. Then you add in the special effects that were mostly all CGI and felt like you were watching a video game.

So, what is my final verdict? I think you get the picture but to make it clearer do not see this film. It was a let down for anyone that enjoys the horror genre and a let down for anybody that enjoys the original Exorcist. If you want a quality horror film to watch about exorcisms, then just rent the original. Do not waste your money on this film.

Rating: 1 out of 5