The Storied Past of The Exorcist Franchise
The world of horror has been forever marked by the chilling tales spun within the The Exorcist series. From its 1973 inception that still holds as a paragon of supernatural terror, its journey has been anything but smooth. Sequels wobbled between excellence and laughable failures, with some even stamping their names on the list of worst cinematic ventures. A glimmer of hope appeared with the 2016 television rendition, yet it failed to leave a lasting impression. With eager anticipation, fans watched as David Gordon Green rolled out The Exorcist: Believer in 2023.
Ellen Burstyn’s reprisal as Chris MacNeil was one of the most talked-about aspects of the movie. After resisting initial pitches, Burstyn finally consented to dive back into the eerie universe. But was this a wise decision? The narrative arc of Chris in The Exorcist: Believer seems to suggest otherwise, casting a shadow on Chris’s legacy.
Unraveling Chris’s Return: An Exercise in Ambiguity
One of the glaring inconsistencies revolves around Chris’s portrayal. Her perspective on the traumatic events of the original movie swings wildly, oscillating between that of a firm believer and a hardened cynic. One moment, she expresses frustrations about the church’s patriarchy barring her from attending her daughter’s exorcism, and the next, she’s grappled by the tangible reality of demons. Chris laments,
“I wasn’t allowed to attend my daughter’s exorcism because I wasn’t a member of the patriarchy.”
Such sentiments, juxtaposed with the lethal outcome of the exorcism on two priests, leave viewers scratching their heads. The criticisms Chris hurls at the Catholic Church’s patriarchal setup seem oddly out of place, especially from someone whose conviction in the demonic is so robust.
A Reunion That Raises More Questions
Then there’s the poignant mother-daughter reunion. Regan’s act of forgiveness towards Chris is layered with ambiguity. What exactly is she pardoning her mother for? Chris’s endeavours after her daughter’s demonic ordeal were framed with good intentions. Linda Blair’s appearance as Regan only thickens the plot soup, further confounding an already puzzling narrative thread.
A Betrayal to The Character’s Legacy?
One thing is clear: The Exorcist: Believer mishandles Chris MacNeil’s legacy. Ellen Burstyn’s character finds herself enmeshed in a narrative that seems to alienate those familiar with the original The Exorcist. Chris’s character arc, with its contradictory nature and sketchy motivations, might have made more sense if it had been an entirely new character. Burstyn’s decision to return appears, in hindsight, to be marred by the film’s failure to honor Chris’s history and depth.
In conclusion, while The Exorcist: Believer may offer fans another chilling dive into the demonic realm, it does a disservice to Chris MacNeil‘s legacy, leaving a stain on the storied history of this iconic horror franchise.
