Exorcist: The Beginning (DVD)

Exorcist: The Beginning was critically panned during its theatrical release, and quickly plummeted from a #1 opening weekend to out of the Top 10 by its third week. Bad word of mouth traveled very fast. If you are one of the many, many, many  people who didn’t see the film on the big screen, you might find it’s worth a look on DVD if for no other reason than curiosity.

Exorcist: The Beginning explores the younger life of Father Merrin (a role made famous by Max Von Sydow in 1973, played by Stellan Skarsgard now) and his very first encounter with true evil. We learn that it was a Nazi, Lieutenant Kessel (Antonie Kamerling), who broke Merrin's faith in God. Exorcist: The Beginning picks up where Merrin meets evil again several years later in Africa where he is employed to lead the excavation of a mysterious Byzantine church which was seemingly buried just days after its completion. Directly beneath the church, Merrin discovers a much more ancient temple of worship: One of unspeakable wickedness, now uncovered by the excavation and ready for some fresh air (and fresh souls!).

About 1/3 through the movie, when the horribly-rendered CGI hyenas show up, ye can abandon all hope. In broad strokes Exorcist: The Beginning is a compelling story -- but the devil's in the details. Too many little things don't add up. Consequently, just as the movie is teetering on the brink of promise it plummets into a pit of cheese fondue, thanks to ridiculous dialogue, appallingly bad special effects, and characters you couldn't care less about.

There’s a lot wrong with this prequel, but there are also a few things right with it. The cinematography, by the legendary Vittorio Storaro, is so atmospheric the dust motes practically float off the screen. The score, by former Yes member Trevor Rabin, alternates between subtle and stirring. Skarsgard is undeniably a magnificent actor (just catch the original version of Insomnia sometime, if you're in doubt) in spite of the poor script. Exorcist: The Beginning has a thunderous, Satan-soaked climax, complete with a well-done homage to Regan. (But this character has been so spoofed, parodied and imitated over the years, I don’t think it’s possible to not chuckle when you see anyone else trying to be her, no matter how well-done).

Not surprisingly, not a lot of attention was lavished on the extras for this box office bomb. When it was first theatrically released, rumors were swirling that another version of this same film (directed by Paul Schrader, but never in theaters) would be a companion DVD (perhaps a double-disc set) but alas, this is not the case.

The DVD is saved by an interesting and informative (through overly technical and not very anecdotal) commentary by director Renny Harlin. He discusses sets, shooting at Cinecitta in Italy, working with the cinematographer (not “D.P.”, and he tells you why), casting the actors, and the movie’s overall visual atmosphere. Harlin hints at having to work through a rushed production schedule, but he never mentions the existence of Schrader’s earlier attempt to make the film or anything else even slightly controversial. Still he does do a decent, straightforward production, scene-specific commentary that might be of interest to students of film.

Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson