The first time I learnt about The Exorcist 2: The Heretic was when my family bought our first VCR. There were trailer compilation tapes that could be rented for free from our local video library and so as well as renting Basket Case (what a great first videotape to rent!) we also took out these trailer tapes- one for Warner Bros and one for Columbia Tristar. I got to see a very subdued and utterly creepy trailer for The Exorcist and then a full-tilt boogie trailer for it’s sequel that featured scenes from the film with a loud electric guitar playing over it. It had the desired effect. I wanted to see both moviesIn reality, everything was weighted against The Exorcist 2 from the very beginning. Director Friedkin and writer Blatty wouldn’t be involved in the project (and were in litigation against each other), the script was being rewritten as the film was being shot and there were editing issues after filming had finished.

Whilst the film set a record for Warner Bros at the time as the highest-grossing opening weekend in the studio’s history, word of mouth quickly changed that as word spread that the film was terrible. The critics chimed in with disastrous reviews that ranged from out-and-out condemnation right through to stating that the film was SO bad that it made the first film look like a masterpiece by comparison (these reviews obviously haven’t aged well as Friedkin’s film IS a masterpiece). Blatty went to see the film and laughed along with other audience members at how preposterous it was.

The Exorcist 2 went on to be judged by history very poorly indeed. It’s now seen by many as one of the worst films ever made and possibly the worst sequel of all time. Whilst some films have been vindicated by the passage of time (yes I’m looking at you, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch and Cruising), The Exorcist 2 seems to be still judged as a terrible piece of filmmaking. When Scream Factory announced their edition of the film on Blu-Ray, the comments section on their social media lit up with an almost unanimous wave of disapproval and hate.

But, for all of this Martin Scorsese included the film in a list of his Top 50 Religious Movies of All Time. He has stated that the film doesn’t deserve the hatred levelled against it and prefers it to the first film (which he also included in his list). Pauline Kael also said that she preferred it to the first film and critic Kim Newman stated that whilst there’s a lot wrong with the picture, it’s always interesting.

So, is The Exorcist 2: The Heretic really that bad?

Theres a lot to love about The Exorcist 2: The Heretic. A gorgeous score by Ennio Morricone, beautiful cinematography by William A Fraker and a look and atmosphere all of it’s own. I love the soundstage feel of the African scenes and there’s something very satisfying about the close-ups of the locusts which are integral to the plot.

The cast are fantastic as well with Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow and Kitty Winn returning with esteemed actors such as Richard Burton, James Earl Jones and Louise Fletcher adding considerable gravitas to the film. Just hearing Burton’s voice gives me chills.

I also adore the New York scenes. This is the 70’s New York of Studio 54 rather than the bankrupt crime-ridden Big Apple. I loved the scene of Regan sleepwalking on the top of the skyscraper where her apartment is, white dress flowing in the wind and doves (!) flying around her. In fact, I love how camp Regan is within this film and the scene in which she freaks out during a tapdance extravaganza is one of my favourite scenes in film history.

The facility scenes are also worth the price of admission from Regan having the power to make a mute little girl speak to the camp silliness of the ‘synchroniser’ contraption that is used. It’s basically a headband with diodes attached and flashing lights. These scenes are always fun.

The film also seems to tap into the 70’s obsession with the paranormal and psychic phenomena. The synchroniser is one such example and we see Regan and Sharon watching a TV programme showing a young man who can bend spoons (obviously based on Uri Geller). All things ‘New Age’ are also explored with Regan keeping doves on the top of the skyscraper she lives in. The scenes of the tribes in Africa contrast nicely with the scenes of a bustling New York in the late 70’s.

Theres a lot within The Exorcist 2: The Heretic that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. But then, when did a film have to make sense? It’s a film that demands that it wash over you and you just turn off your mind and bask in the imagery and sounds as they unfurl before your eyes.

This is a film that is a time capsule of a vision of 70’s life and 1970’s filmmaking. You just know that a considerable amount of the budget was spent on, as Edina Monsoon would cryptically say, ‘wicker baskets’ (that’s Bolivian Marching Powder to the rest of us).

Verdict- is The Exorcist 2 as bad as people say it is? Hell no! I agree with Kim Newman in that it’s never boring. And that’s good enough for me. I despise any film that makes me either walk out of a cinema out of boredom (hello, Freddy Vs Jason!) or makes me reach for my phone to scroll through social media (not in a cinema though). Bland cinema is the worst kind. And whilst The Exorcist 2 may be far from perfect, it aint bland! It must have been a trip to see this movie on the big screen when it first opened in the 70’s. It’s still a trip now. No, it will never compare to the opus that is the first film, but give it a try. You might like it!