| Exorcist:
The Beginning The scattershot incompleteness to Renny Harlin’s
ill-advised follow-up to William Friedkin’s classic creep show is evident in the
flimsy frightfulness of the overwrought and putrid prequel Exorcist: The Beginning.
For those that had to endure inferior sequels to Friedkin’s twisted and treasured
pea soup-regurgitating nightmarish narrative (read: Exorcist: The Heretic), they
may yearn more for this sluggish supernatural tale to end as opposed to embracing
its so-called Beginning.
Exorcist:
The Beginning (2004) Warner Brothers
1 hour 54 minutes.
Starring: Stellan
Starsgard, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy, Remy Sweeney, Julian Wadham, Andrew
French
Directed by: Renny Harlin
 The
scattershot incompleteness to Renny Harlin's ill-advised follow-up to William
Friedkin's classic creep show is evident in the flimsy frightfulness of the overwrought
and putrid prequel Exorcist: The Beginning. For those that had to endure inferior
sequels to Friedkin's twisted and treasured pea soup-regurgitating nightmarish
narrative (read: Exorcist: The Heretic), they may yearn more for this sluggish
supernatural tale to end as opposed to embracing its so-called Beginning. Granted
Harlin's overbearing showcase of messy mayhem tries diligently to present a chaotic
and complex twist in an effort to ignite the perverted passion that was Friedkin's
impeccable shock-filled universe. However, Harlin's hackwork screams volumes of
a falsely moody and generic scarefest that is notably laughable more than its
overproduced claim as a legitimate goosebump thriller. 
Apparently, the disjointed and dreary on-screen presentation of Exorcist:
The Beginning doesn't just make a needless spectacle of itself in front of the
camera. Reportedly, behind the scenes of this spellbinding stinker was a constant
struggle to ensure the completion of Harlin's plagued project. Bombarded with
complaints about the movie's original director Paul Schrader and the way he wanted
to approach this film's sketchy outlook, Harlin was hired to re-shoot with new
casting and breathe some life into this vapid venture. Regardless of either Harlin
or Schrader's pronounced touch on this flaccid frightfest, Exorcist: The Beginning
is the epitome of a disastrous drama that can't hold a dime store candle to the
heralded inspiration it tries to exploit with tired, cheesy results.
Sad to say, the need to revisit The Exorcist franchise once again in an attempt
to recreate the morbid magic that stimulated the Satanic-induced sensationalism
wouldn't be enough to spin around horror heroine Linda Blair's possessed head
in an uncontrollable circle. Along with Harlin's glib and uneventful direction,
screenwriter Alexi Hawley delivers a tedious and tattered script that blindly
rambles on without once reinforcing this staid story with saying anything worthwhile
in terms of the indelible mark it wants to make on the audience's jittery consciousness.
At best, the chills are routinely atmospheric and
one may have an occasional edgy reaction. But for the most part,
the plodding buildup is somewhat monotonous and one will sit there
wondering what's in store for the manufactured evil that Harlin
and Hawley methodically deliver with the riveting tension of watching
water drip.
The premise involves the early days of
Kenya-bound Father Lankester Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard) long before his prolonged
tangle with the pesky Lucifer saddled in suburbanite sass Blair's battered body
in the original edition. Incidentally, Skarsgard takes over the reins of portraying
the weary Father Merrin from Max Von Sydow who courageously donned the collar
in the unforgettable first installment. Anyhow, Skarsgard's Father Merrin is a
cynical soul whose taste for booze is prevalent as he looks to drown out the deeply
emotional scars of his checkered past and current existence.
As an archeologist
and self-appointed avid adventurer, Merrin decides to grace his presence upon
the late 1940's East African landscape where he's there to investigate the mystique
of a newly discovered unearthed church that caters to some ominous, carefree vibes.
A survivor of World War II disillusionment, Merrin has seen his share of unspeakable
experiences so going to Nairobi and unmasking the ghastly spirits of this head-scratching
African temple is nothing new to this religious rogue with the inquiring mindset.
Along the way, Merrin will encounter strange yet fascinating personalities as
well as colorful demonic occurrences that seem to pop up arbitrarily for shock
value sake.
Thus, the obvious questions are asked as we witness our relentless
Indiana Jones-esque prototype holy man that is being grudgingly submitted to the
bewildering process of an unexplainable phenomenon. What will the intrepid but
flawed Father Merrin encounter in this seedy place of worship? Why was this church
buried in the first place? What will the consequences be for disturbing the sanctity
of this perplexing place? Plus, will Merrin ever recover from his alcoholic cloudiness
and try to redeem his faith in himself and in the destructive nature of the human
race's spiritual shortcomings?
There's no doubt that Exorcist: The Beginning
has a tall order to fill by desperately trying to echo the scathing havoc that
was so subversively delicious in Friedkin's 1973 occult oldie but goodie. It's
a given that the ability to enhance the filmmaking techniques to incorporate a
more convincingly eye-popping dark saga has its advantages in Beginning as opposed
to three decades ago when the first serving of Friedkin's hellish peep show might
be considered rustic by today's moviemaking standards.
Still, there was an inherent energy and freshness
to the penetrating thrills that captured the fragile imagination
to one of the cinema's most terrifying and tantalizing treats in
modern movie history concerning The Exorcist. But in Exorcist: The
Beginning, the woefully cliché and strained proceedings are
simply run-of-the-mill and nonsensical without one drop of artistic
gloominess to heighten its artificial impact. In short, this prepackaged
prequel is a sorry shell of its former self.
The dullness behind Harlin's intent to instill some vigor into Beginning is so
misguided that he doesn't even realize how much he's awkwardly borrowing from
other films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Omen. This, of course, threatens
to discredit his piece of entertainment as being viably durable in its own entity.
Unfortunately, the murky set designs and nostalgic gothic feel to this uneven
rousing melodrama doesn't begin to capture whatever jumpy effect Harlin wants
to recycle in his rickety rouser. As a substandard piece of B-movie schlock, Harlin
and his handlers don't even have the decency to pump this ball of cockeyed confusion
into something mildly campy that would at least salvage some of it fleeting appeal.
As the worn-out warrior of the cloth, Skarsgard is effective in his haggard
interpretation of the Oxford-educated Father Merrin with the distinctive sense
of psychological detachment. But given the mundane and mawkish material that languishes
on ad nauseam, Skarsgard's lost and drunken spiritual leader Merrin is tainted
because of the goofy flourishes and maddening moments that teeter on the boredom
meter.
Basically, the film wants to grab more than it can chew. When
the protocol doesn't call for manipulative measures that require freaky flashbacks
meant to solicit knee jerk reactions to shadowy tics then the movie finds itself
bouncing between a weak-kneed love story and a display of the convoluted creeps
replete with CGI red-eyed hyenas and blood-gushing body parts. There's even a
suggested but played-down political commentary about the British bureaucracy on
Kenyan soil that have the nerve to merely 'tolerate' its unruly natives by dismissing
them as savages yet this is never truly explored.
The supporting roles
in Beginning are thankless and that's not very comforting in a horror genre that
depends on standby characterizations to elevate the cause for caustic conflict.
As the resident physician caught up in the horrific high jinks, Izabella Scorupco
is radiant but doesn't bring much to the table otherwise. James D'Arcy is on hand
as the young priest willing to do what it takes to curve some of the animated
happenings. And last but certainly not least - the Devil himself! As
repulsive and reprehensible that you would think this hellish hoot would be, the
Devil surprisingly doesn't have any new tricks up his wicked sleeves. Hence, the
much-anticipated confrontations between the determined but damaged Father Merrin
and the savvy Satan have all the urgency of a boxing match between a dippy Dallas
Cowboy cheerleader and a grumpy Hells Angel biker.
Notoriously under-whelming
in its bid to get under one's sensitive skin Exorcist: The Beginning is an inexplicable
tease for true horror hedonists that wouldn't take Harlin's brand of pointless,
protrusive propaganda so seriously.
Frank Ochieng (c)
Frank Ochieng 2004. All rights reserved. 
| |
OTHER CONTENT - October 2004
Andrew Fox Interview
A conversation with Andrew Fox author of Bride of the Fat White Vampire.
(AUTHOR INTERVIEWS)
Juliet E. McKenna Interview
October sees the launch of the first volume in a new series - The Aldabreshin Compass - from fantasy author Juliet E. McKenna. So we scooted down to Oxford to pose her a few questions amidst the spires and students.
(AUTHOR INTERVIEWS)
Translating Fantasy and Science Fiction : The Peak of Creativity
We all know that many of the most loved science fiction and fantasy authors' work is admired worldwide, but little do we know about the people who made it possible for them to become so well-known. Apart from the people involved in publishing there are quite a lot of other professionals without whom it wouldn't have been possible. These are the translators.
(ARTICLES)
Horror Writer Barbara J. Ferrenz Interviewed
What's worse than death? On the one hand, it's the title of a novel by school psychologist and writer Barbara J. Ferrenz of Dunkirk, MD. On the other hand, maybe it's better never to know.
(AUTHOR INTERVIEWS)
Alien vs. Predator
Director Paul W.S. Anderson serves up a meager monster mash spectacle that borders on the silly-minded and slimy by sizing up the terrorizing tag-team of creature feature cads Alien and the Predator in the obviously titled scarefest Alien vs. Predator.
(FILM REVIEWS)
Catwoman
In watching the curvy Oscar-winning Halle Berry don the skin tight suit in the sassy anti-superhero saga Catwoman, one must admit that this special eye candy is something that cannot be denied. And director Pitof does in fact lend this picture its glossy and mysterious allure in a unique manner that’s inescapable to ignore. Beyond these couple of minor observations, this cosmetic kitty with the conflicting personality doesn’t quite cut it as the escapist comic caper it could have been.
(FILM REVIEWS)
Exorcist: The Beginning
The scattershot incompleteness to Renny Harlin’s ill-advised follow-up to William Friedkin’s classic creep show is evident in the flimsy frightfulness of the overwrought and putrid prequel Exorcist: The Beginning. For those that had to endure inferior sequels to Friedkin’s twisted and treasured pea soup-regurgitating nightmarish narrative (read: Exorcist: The Heretic), they may yearn more for this sluggish supernatural tale to end as opposed to embracing its so-called Beginning.
(FILM REVIEWS)
The Village
One expected a terrific output from immensely talented writer-director M. Night Shyamalan concerning his latest supernatural saga The Village. Unfortunately for the normally resilient filmmaker, The Village is a meandering and morbid chiller that is a labored muddy vision of Shyamalan’s usual insightful and involving hedonism.
(FILM REVIEWS)
Offworld Report: Science Fiction and Fantasy: October 2004
Interviews with Jack Dann, Ian R MacLeod, Larry Niven, China Mieville and the stars of Stargate and Sky Captain, why fantasy novelists are the new thing, Noreascon reports and The Andromeda Strain heads for a remake.
(NEWS)
Offworld Report: Weird Science: October 2004
NASA finds a Ring World, the space elevator is abandoned, robot spiders, the mystery radio signal isn't aliens calling in, hydrogen fuel gets realistic, and lunar advertising - coming to a moon near you soon?
(NEWS)
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