Why The Exorcists New Sequel Cant Follow Halloweens Approach

Why The Exorcist’s New Sequel Can’t Follow Halloween’s Approach

David Gordon Green may tackle a new Exorcist sequel, but despite seeing success with Halloween 2018, he can’t take the same approach — here’s why.

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Why The Exorcists New Sequel Cant Follow Halloweens Approach

Several horror movie reboots, remakes, and sequels can follow the successful approach of David Gordon Green’s Halloween, but The Exorcist is not one of them. While the prospect of a reboot of William Friedkin’s iconic 1973 movie is an exciting possibility, there are numerous reasons why a legacy format won’t be the most successful route for them to take. Green’s recent projects have been resounding successes, and he is in talks to direct a new version of The Exorcist—which is being called a sequel—but he must avoid the same method he employed on 2018’s Halloween if he gets the chance to tackle this iconic film.

William Friedkin’s The Exorcist is one of the most recognizable horror movies in all the genre’s history, as it has been parodied, referenced, and celebrated since its 1973 release. It stars Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, Jason Miller as Father Damien Karras, S.J., Max von Sydow as Father Lankester Merrin, and Linda Blair as the possessed Regan MacNeil. Shortly after the young girl plays with a Oujia board, she begins to act strangely which leads to her possession that causes her mother to call upon a priest to do an exorcism. While horror was still largely considered a genre that wasn’t taken seriously by Hollywood – which is somewhat the case today – The Exorcist revolutionized it by instilling that it is a form of legitimate art. It has become one of the most important movies in both the horror genre and movie history as a whole. In 2020, it was featured in the Shudder original series Cursed Films, which explored the supposed curse of The Exorcist, another reason why Friedkin’s movie is so iconic. Given all of this, whoever does adapt the new Exorcist 2 movie has their work cut out for them.

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According to Bloody Disgusting, the upcoming The Exorcist sequel will take place following the events of Regan’s 1973 possession. Beyond that, there is little known about the plot. Green approached the Halloween franchise in a similar fashion, as he retconned the series by situating the timeline of his 2018 movie after the events of the original Halloween. In turn, it became a legacy sequel that withheld the original movie’s structure and situations between Jamie Lee Curtis’s Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. While this largely changed the way that other directors approach remakes, reboots, and contemporary sequels, The Exorcist cannot be a legacy sequel due to its cultural impact and specific sub-genre.

It’s far easier to take a legacy approach to a slasher horror movie or a lesser-established franchise. Green’s Halloween succeeded because it retconned the series and remedied plot holes and issues that its subsequent sequels and various timelines contained. In 2020, Blumhouse Productions was responsible for the soft reboot of The Craft, which actually feels more like a legacy sequel than a reboot or remake. While Green was not responsible for The Craft: Legacy, it’s important to note the continued popularity of this method. With the onset of Halloween Kills’ 2021 release as well as Green’s attachment to the Hellraiser series, it’s evident that he’s determined to carry on the legacy of iconic movie franchises. However, The Exorcist is an entirely different entity than these projects and necessitates a different approach.

The Exorcist cannot be a successful legacy sequel because there’s nothing that can truly tie them together besides the demonic entity that possessed Regan, which is exactly what the 1973 movie’s sequels already did. Most legacy sequels feature returning characters, a plot that carries over from the original movie, or a similar plot to the first installment. In the case of The Exorcist, the only element it can successfully utilize without becoming an exact replica would be including Linda Blair in a cameo role. Paranormal horror movies have a different structure than slashers like Halloween. When a sequel is made, it always runs the risk of becoming repetitive unless it’s reinvented with remnants of the original movie intact.

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In order to be a successful sequel, Green must consider exploring themes from the original that the sequels did not touch on and expand from there. For example, the movie could focus on Regan’s recovery from the exorcism rather than Pazuzu’s torment as she grows into adulthood. Possessions don’t solely impact one individual, which may necessitate a major shift from Regan MacNeil to an all new character who becomes possessed by Pazuzu. Paranormal horror movies don’t work well as legacy sequels, as they employ a specified structure that goes against various cultural beliefs pertaining to possessions and hauntings that can lead to a formulaic plot. Morgan Creek has confirmed that they are rebooting The Exorcist, but they must continue to be mindful of their approach to the sequel, as it cannot follow the legacy format of other popular reboots, which are starting to overdo this specific trend, and border on being formulaic already.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/exorcist-sequel-movie-halloween-legacy-approach-bad-reason/

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