Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

"Excellent Presentation of a Unique Sequel"

Fans of John Boorman's sequel to William Friedkin's original THE EXORCIST have a treat in store as Arrow releases a two disc Blu-ray set of both the original 118 minute US version and the shorter, re-edited 103 minute international cut.

It's four years since Regan MacNeil's possession by the demon Pazuzu and her subsequent exorcism by Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow), who died in the process. Now the Catholic church, represented by Paul Henreid's Cardinal, have decided to recruit Father Lamont (Richard Burton) to investigate the case and find out if some of Merrin's wilder claims were true.

Meanwhile Regan (Linda Blair) is undergoing hypnotherapy by Dr Gene Tuskin (Louise Fletcher) and her flashing light box. These therapies are conducted in the least confidential clinic room ever, where all the walls are made of glass and the many children that are presumably also Dr Tuskin's patients can see in when they're not being distracting by pushing large plush toys around or wheeling what looks like a huge soft sponge hexagon nut. 

Father Lamont straps on one of Dr Tuskin's leather headbands and joins in because Dr Tuskin doesn't seem to be too worried about medical ethics either. Soon he's seeing visions of locusts, Africa, and James Earl Jones. It seems Pazuzu is still 'deep within' Regan and that's because she is one of a number of people who have been born as 'forces for good'. This is explained in more detail using locusts as an analogy. Yes it is. Eventually Lamont and Regan end up back at the house from the first EXORCIST where we are treated to a climax of locusts as the building falls apart and it takes the surrounding neighbourhood ages to notice.

I can imagine back in 1977 Twentieth Century Fox arranging a screening of EXORCIST II for Mike Hodges, Stanley Mann, and other personnel and saying 'This is not how we want OMEN II to turn out - understand?' In fact it's a bit of a mystery why Warners thought they were onto a winner with this one (it received a massive release in the US) as, rather than John Boorman's proposed meditation on the power of good, EXORCIST II is a mess of incoherence, stultifying dullness, and laugh out loud Bad Film moments. Richard Burton looks understandably bewildered throughout, while Ennio Morricone's main theme is beautiful but doesn't fit with anything it's used to underscore. In fact Quentin Tarantino put it to better use in his 2015 THE HATEFUL EIGHT. What you do get is something fascinating to film students but perplexing and ultimately unsatisfying to the mainstream audience it was intended for.

Arrow's Blu-ray set brings us the full 118 minute version on disc one, with no fewer than four (!) commentary tracks. One is archival from John Boorman and the other three are academic - an archival one from Scott Michael Bosco and two new ones from Paul Kittredge and the late Lee Gambin, and Kelly Goodner and Jim Hemphill. The Boorman is best if you want explanations about why he made it, while the others all touch on different aspects of the film, with Kittredge and Gambin to be congratulated on their effusive enthusiasm while the Goodner and Hemphill is just as good if rather more restrained. Other extras include two archival interviews from 2018's Shout Factory release with Linda Blair (20 minute) and editor Tom Priestley (7 minutes).

Disc two has the international cut and a commentary track from Mike White who very helpfully points out the differences, although no-one will need any help spotting the cobbled together opening. Add in trailers and image galleries and it's quite the exhaustive (and exhausting) package.

John Boorman's EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC is out in a two disc Blu-ray set from Arrow on Monday 7th October 2024