Exorcist: The Beginning
An unbelieving priest confronting the buried remnants of an ancient church is drawn into a terrifying struggle with demonic evil in postwar East Africa.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- oppressive
- foreboding
- bleak
- late night horror marathon
- supernatural horror night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a formulaic and inferior franchise prequel with weak execution despite occasional atmosphere and an effective central performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Merrin investigates a church buried beneath East African sands and discovers pre-Christian signs of desecration.
Merrin is haunted by what he was forced to do in World War II and rejects belief before confronting demonic evil.
The excavation camp is enveloped by gloom while workers go mad and violence spreads around the buried church.
The buried church contains signs of desecration and becomes the central locus of the film’s demonic threat.
Films like Exorcist: The Beginning, and why
The Exorcist
shared archaeological setting, demonic supernatural horror, religious themes, and oppressive atmosphere
The Omen
shared possession horror, Catholic imagery, escalating dread, and faith-centered conflict
The Ninth Gate
shared occult investigation, historical religious mystery, and bleak supernatural tension
The Ruins
shared isolated expedition setting, ancient evil, and atmospheric supernatural horror
Movie Details
- Director
- Renny Harlin
- Release Date
- 2004-08-20
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (926)
Cast
- Stellan Skarsgård
- Izabella Scorupco
- James D'Arcy
- Julian Wadham
- Remy Sweeney
- Andrew French
- Antonie Kamerling
- Ben Cross
- Alan Ford
- Ralph Brown
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Exorcist: The Beginning about?
- An unbelieving priest confronting the buried remnants of an ancient church is drawn into a terrifying struggle with demonic evil in postwar East Africa.
- What is Exorcist: The Beginning like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Exorcist: The Beginning as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Exorcist: The Beginning violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Exorcist: The Beginning as graphic.
- What did critics think of Exorcist: The Beginning?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a formulaic and inferior franchise prequel with weak execution despite occasional atmosphere and an effective central performance.
- Which films are like Exorcist: The Beginning?
- Films with a similar feel include The Exorcist, The Omen, The Ninth Gate, and The Ruins.
- How long is Exorcist: The Beginning?
- Exorcist: The Beginning runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Exorcist: The Beginning?
- In United States, Exorcist: The Beginning streams on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel.
