George Ludlow

Why is The Exorcist: Believer so bad? Unoriginal story: The film's plot is essentially a rehash of the original film, with a few minor changes. It follows a priest who is called upon to exorcise a demon from a young girl. The film does not offer anything new or original to the genre. Bland characters: The film's characters are all one-dimensional and underdeveloped. The priest is a generic good guy, the demon is a generic evil entity, and the young girl is a generic possessed victim. There is no one to root for or care about in the film. Subpar scares: The film fails to be scary. The jump scares are predictable and the special effects are unconvincing. The film also relies heavily on gore and shock value, which comes across as cheap and gratuitous. Disrespectful to the original film: The Exorcist: Believer feels like a cash grab that was made without any respect for the original film. It is a poorly made and unnecessary sequel that tarnishes the legacy of the classic horror film. Muddled message: The film's message is unclear and confusing. It seems to suggest that women are more susceptible to demonic possession, and that they are ultimately responsible for their own downfalls. Negative portrayal of women: The film's female characters are all portrayed in a negative light. The young girl is possessed by a demon, the priest's assistant is sexually harassed, and the priest's mother is a manipulative alcoholic.