Watch Exorcist II: The Heretic

Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1977 American horror movie directed by John Boorman and starring Richard Burton, Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher. The movie is a sequel to the 1973 classic horror film The Exorcist, which was also directed by William Friedkin. The Exorcist II: The Heretic is set four years after the events of the original movie and focuses on the character of Regan MacNeil, who is now a teenager.

The movie begins with the death of Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), the priest who exorcised the demon Pazuzu from Regan (Linda Blair) in the original movie. Father Lamont (Richard Burton) is sent to investigate the death of Merrin, and he becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened. He visits Regan, who is now living with the MacNeil family in New York City, and tries to communicate with the demon that possessed her.

Meanwhile, a new character is introduced, Dr. Gene Tuskin (Louise Fletcher), who has developed a controversial method of linking minds to help treat mental illness. She is intrigued by Regan's case and begins working with her to try to tap into her subconscious mind to find the answers that Lamont is seeking.

As Lamont continues his investigation, he discovers that Merrin had been conducting research on Pazuzu and had discovered a connection between the demon and an African tribe. He travels to Africa to learn more about the tribe and their beliefs, and he eventually has a vision in which he sees Regan and a young boy, Kokumo (James Earl Jones), who is also linked to the demon.

Back in New York, Tuskin's attempts to link minds lead to a dangerous confrontation with the demon, and Regan is once again possessed. Lamont realizes that the only way to save Regan is to travel to the demon's lair and confront it directly. He enlists the help of another priest, Father Paul (Ned Beatty), and together they set out on a dangerous mission to find the demon and banish it once and for all.

Exorcist II: The Heretic has often been criticized for deviating too far from the original movie and for its confusing plot. While the movie attempts to explore deeper themes of spirituality and the nature of good and evil, it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying horror experience. The special effects, which were groundbreaking for their time, now seem dated and often distract from the story.

Despite these criticisms, the movie does have some redeeming qualities. Richard Burton delivers a strong performance as Father Lamont, and Louise Fletcher is effective as the eccentric Dr. Tuskin. Linda Blair, who won critical acclaim for her role in the original movie, also delivers a convincing performance as Regan.

Overall, Exorcist II: The Heretic is a flawed sequel that fails to live up to the expectations set by its predecessor. While it does have some interesting moments and engaging performances, it ultimately falls short in its attempts to recapture the horror of the original.

Exorcist II: The Heretic is a 1977 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8 and a MetaScore of 39.