The Exorcist III (Exclusive Series) (Tubi/Peacock)

Initial release date: August 17, 1990

Studios: 20th Century Fox/Morgan Creek Productions

Tagline: The horror is Legion

Do you dare walk these steps again?

Plot: Police Lt. Kinderman notices similarities between his current murder investigation and the methods used by the "Gemini" killer who was executed fifteen years before. He soon discovers a hospitalized mental patient claiming to be the dead serial killer, but who looks uncannily like a priest Kinderman knew who died during an exorcism. As more bodies are found, Kinderman looks for connections between the two supposedly dead men.

Cast

George C. Scott - Kinderman

Ed Flanders - Father Dyer

Brad Dourif - The Gemini Killer

Jason Miller - Patient X

Scott Wilson - Dr. Temple

Nicol Williamson - Father Morning

Nancy Fish - Nurse Allerton

George DiCenzo - Stedman

Don Gordon - Ryan

Grand L. Bush - Sgt. Atkins

May Jackson - Mrs. Cleia

Ken Lerner - Dr. Freedman

Tracy Thorne - Nurse Keating

Writer/director: William Peter Blatty

Rated R (100 min)

After watching the not so great 'Exorcist II: The Heretic,' I was a little leery about checking out the third movie. So, last night (10.17), I took a look at the third movie in the series and even though it's slightly better than the 1977 sequel, it does feature some thrilling moments.

There are a couple sequences that are fairly memorable and eerie. One sequence involves a dream sequence where the lead character (Kinderman) is having a nightmare and it can be rather intriguing and unsettling at the same time. There is also a confessional scene that features a priest and the "killer" that is really bone-chilling.

The sequel can get a little on the confusing side sometimes and can be on the rather slow side. There are also a few jump scares that can be really effective. Honestly, even though this one did have a few decent moments, they should have left 'The Exorcist' alone and let it be a stand-alone film and not turn it into a franchise. Next year during the Halloween season, I might check out both versions of the 'Exorcist' prequel that was released in 2004 or 2005.

'The Exorcist III' can currently be streamed on Peacock and Tubi.

Here are a few interesting tidbits for 'The Exorcist III':

• Blatty made the film based on his novel 'Legion,' which was published in 1983. Morgan Creek decided to call it 'The Exorcist III: legion even though the screenplay and novel featured no exorcisms whatsoever. After principal photography was completed, the misleading nature of the title was noticed, and the producers determined that additional scenes needed to be written and then added into the film in order to make it a more recognizable sequel to the 1973 film. The last third of the movie had to be entirely redone, with the insertion of a new character, Father Morning, and of an exorcism scene that cost nearly $4 million.

• "The Gemini Killer" character was inspired by the real life serial killer, The Zodiac.

• Blatty had to re-cast the central role of Kinderman, as Lee J. Cobb, who played the part in 1973, died in 1976. Scott, who had never seen 'The Exorcist,' signed up for the role after being impressed by the initial screenplay.

• 'The Exorcist III' was first released in October 1989 in the European MIFED Film Market and then opened to 1,288 theaters on August 17, 1990. Unlike its predecessors, it was distributed by Fox instead of Warner Bros.

• Opened at No. 1 in its opening weekend, earning $9.3 million domestic. It grossed a total of $26 million domestic and $18 million internationally for a total of $44 million worldwide.

https://youtu.be/BXsj26KH4jk