This movie was more of a phychological horror film than a supernatural horror film. Written for the big screen and directed by William Peter Blatty based on his 1983 novel Legion. It's the third installment of the Exorcist film franchise. "The Exoecist III" is a direct sequel to "The Exorcist" (1973) as this film dismisses the events of 1977's "Exorcist II:The Heretic" the movie follows one character from the original film Lieutenant William F. Kinderman (played by veteran actor George C.Scott) as he investigates a series of murders in Georgetown that have the hallmark of The Gemini Killer. There is another character Damien Karras (played by Jason Miller who reprised this role) now going by Patient X has a significant role in this picture. More on that in the plot.
Why did William Peter Blatty direct this movie instead of William Friedkin? Well you see Friedkin was on board with directing the film,but backed out as he went on to direct another supernatural horror film called "The Guardian"
It's 17 years later after Regan MacNeil's exorcism Father Dyer and Lieutenant Kinderman reminisce about Father Damien Karras. The following night an incident occured at the church indicating the presence of an evil supernatural entity which caused the crucifix to open it's eyes,the next scene follows with the perspective of a man walking on the streets speaking of a dream of falling down a LONG FLIGHT of STEPS" suggesting that someone is committing murders linked to Karras' death. The Next morning Kinderman is called to a crime scene to find a deceased body of Thomas Kintry a youngster that had his head replaced with a cut off statue of Jesus. While fingerprints at multiple crime scenes didn't match the indication of a different person committing the murders,Kinderman informs the hospital staff that the murders fit the modus operandi of James Venamum The Gemini Killer a serial killer who was executed 15 years earlier. Later on Lt.Kinderman visited the head of the psychiatric ward Dr.Temple and relates the history of one of his patients The patient wandered around aimlessly 15 years previously with amnesia. He was locked up in a catatonic state until he became violent and claimed to be The Gemini Killer. Kindernam soon learns that the patient has turned out to be Patient X/Damien Karras however his form soon changes into The Gemini Killer. He expressed Karras' ingorance but boasta about killing Father Dyer.
That evening a nurse gets killed and Dr.Temple dies by suicide,Kinderman returned to see Karras who once again transforms into The Gemini Killer. The Gemini explains that he is aided by a Master (Master of What I don't know,but if I had to guess Pazuzu is Gemini's master) The "Master" was furious with Karras for being exorcised by him after he possessed Regan MacNeil many years ago. So "The Master" is exacting revenge by using Karras' body as a conduit for the Gemini to continue his killing spree. Each night The Gemini's soul leaves Karras' body and possessed the other patients in the hospital using them to commit murders. The Gemini revealed that he forced Dr. Temple to bring Kinderman to him.
Soon The Gemini possesses an old woman and attempts to murder Kinderman and his family at his home,however plans were thwarted when Father Paul Morning arrived and performed an exorcism on Karras. The Master Intervenes taking over Karras' body and Morning gets severely mutilated. Kinderman rushed back to the hospital and attempts to euthanize Karras. The possessed Karras then torments and attempts to kill Kinderman,however a recovered Morning tells Karras to fight,Karras is freed as he cries out to Kinderman to shoot him and Kinderman does shoot him freeing him of both The Gemini and his Master. The film ends when Kinderman watches Karras' funeral. Then the credits roll.
With a budget of $11 million to make,The Exorcist III made $44 million at the box office worldwide. This movie is considered a cult classic and would revive The Exorcist franchise and it spawned two prequels Exorcist:The Beginning in 2004 and Dominion:The Exorcist Prequel in 2005, Not to mention the recent release of Exorcist:Believer which was released on October 6,2023.
My overall rating of this movie is a 75/100 it was just as frightening as The original Exorcist movie from 1973 and it was FAR better than Exorcist II from 1977.
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