tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post7808412987837479341..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Ask JKM a Question: Do You Dare Walk These Steps Again? (Exorcist III)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-16808881501675194362023-02-21T20:59:30.835-05:002023-02-21T20:59:30.835-05:00Why is this article now redacted?Why is this article now redacted?STEPHENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428326615122884230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-4921305823409110522013-04-25T22:48:47.787-04:002013-04-25T22:48:47.787-04:00I've never viewed this film in it's entire...I've never viewed this film in it's entirety, but it seems that cerebral horror was more a 70's staple and a 90's exception. Trenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00419980258148279356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-939788103934567012013-04-23T11:22:50.706-04:002013-04-23T11:22:50.706-04:00On the topic of audience reception, I cannot think...On the topic of audience reception, I cannot think of any other film that is more sampled in the death metal genre and its variants than Exorcist III. I always found it interesting that the extreme metal community embraced this film throughout the 90s when horror communities and critics did not (which also happens to be a period of growth and refinement for extreme metal). Hail Satan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-44515034346450712312013-04-23T04:25:03.254-04:002013-04-23T04:25:03.254-04:00I saw this back when it was released in the theatr...I saw this back when it was released in the theatre, and has remained on my "scariest films" list ever since. There are some truly unnerving scenes in this film, like the creepy dream sequence. There are some very disturbing images in this film. Also this film contains one of the most effective jump scares I have ever seen, and it still gets me every time I see it (those who have seen this film knows what I'm referring to). The whole film has a thoroughly dark feel to it. And the acting is superb.<br /><br />This film is actually rather different than it was intended to be when it was shot. The studio insisted that some new scenes be re-shot to actually have an exorcism at the end - originally there wasn't supposed to be one. Some scenes were cut, and some new scenes filmed, which ended up getting inter-cut between the Gemini killer and Father Damien during the conversations in the prison. This is why we literally see Father Damien, then he's the Gemini killer, then back, etc. - this is due to some re-shoots. Unfortunately all the cut footage was lost, so there's no way to actually see how it was originally screened. I've heard it was superior to what was ultimately released.<br /><br />Still, even with studio mingling, it's a great film, and I'll never get how more people aren't aware of it. I guess most people assume it's just got to be bad since it's a sequel, and not even the first sequel. I made a friend watch it years ago on DVD when he said he was in the mood for something scary he hadn't seen before. He doubted me when I told him we would watch this, but when it was over, he couldn't stop talking about how good it was.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-24404778780040631612013-04-22T23:36:35.675-04:002013-04-22T23:36:35.675-04:00I think you know I remain a BIG fan of this totall...I think you know I remain a BIG fan of this totally unappreciated film. And yes, it is based upon William Peter Blatty's LEGION novel. Great look at this film, John.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-86926289170174383752013-04-22T23:25:26.270-04:002013-04-22T23:25:26.270-04:00Your commentary on this film is spot on. I actuall...Your commentary on this film is spot on. I actually saw this film before I saw "The Exorcist". Still not sure how that happened. Anyway, what struck me about the film was how the horror was more idea based than visceral and in your face. I really enjoyed it, and remember recommending to a few folks at the video store I worked at, especially when they were looking for horror films that were a bit different. But to be honest, I got a lot of mixed reactions with that recommendation. Lots of people thought it was way too slow. I haven't seen it in many years, but you inspired me to seek it out again.<br /><br />Your comment about a hatred for horror films of the 1990s is interesting. I've run into that too. And hatred is not overstating it. When I mentioned that I thought "Scream" and "Blair Witch Project" were a couple of my favorite horror flicks - you'd think I'd shot someone's dog and did unspeakable things to it. The conversation pretty much ended with the statement that no horror film made during that decade was worth anything, and it was a black hole in the horror genre. And this opinion was shared by several folks. I was honestly very surprised. <br /><br />But I've seen a backlash like this for other films and series from that decade. And I wonder if it falls in line with a theory one of my professors had. Folks in a current decade think anything from the previous decade is crap and anything from two decades ago is gold. So in the 1990s, everything made in the 1980s was crap and anything made in the 1970s was gold. If she was right, then we should be heading into the everything in the 2000s is crap and everything in 1990s is gold. So maybe these horror flicks will start to receive some respect. :)Roman J. Martelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-71859238511501405602013-04-22T20:44:09.499-04:002013-04-22T20:44:09.499-04:00Hi David,
I like the film very much, and feel hap...Hi David,<br /><br />I like the film very much, and feel happy that it is getting some love here tonight. I think it's a well-made film, and it is probably better for avoiding scenes that smack of its celebrated predecessor, The Exorcist.<br /><br />Thank you for your comment!John Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-31179095253148863582013-04-22T20:43:20.206-04:002013-04-22T20:43:20.206-04:00Hi Josef,
Interesting comment. I'd definitely...Hi Josef,<br /><br />Interesting comment. I'd definitely be curious to see a version of the film closer to Blatty's intention. That said, I also very much like the theatrical release, and feel that the film is a strong one. It has at least two "killer" jolts, and I still remember jumping from my seat on at least one occasion...<br />John Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-42394472470176764422013-04-22T20:42:12.054-04:002013-04-22T20:42:12.054-04:00Thank you, my friend. I really enjoy the film, an...Thank you, my friend. I really enjoy the film, and feel it deserves a better reputation.John Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-67511670906297434362013-04-22T20:32:40.023-04:002013-04-22T20:32:40.023-04:00Compromised or not, Exorcist 3 is still better tha...Compromised or not, Exorcist 3 is still better than most Horror films back in the 1980s/90s or even today.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03097420555737415471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-26414564545983487272013-04-22T18:21:14.727-04:002013-04-22T18:21:14.727-04:00I saw a fan-edit at a horror con last year, where ...I saw a fan-edit at a horror con last year, where the exorcism scene (the producers felt it needed an exorcism scene, and it was done despite protests from director/writer Blatty) was cut and it was all better for it. Although, I find it rather slow, it's more a character piece...but once we know what's going on and closer to the end, man, it does pick up the pace and gets exciting.<br /><br />It sure is an underdog of a movie. Not for everyone. Still, it's a well made film.Jósef Karlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07786186551265658132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-59549821951624662682013-04-22T17:57:26.882-04:002013-04-22T17:57:26.882-04:00John excellent analysis of Exorcist III.
SGBJohn excellent analysis of Exorcist III.<br /><br />SGBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com