While promoting his dark comedic thriller, No Other Choice (2025), director Park Chan-wook revealed a surprising guilty pleasure movie to JustWatch. "I've always claimed the sequel to The Exorcist is a great film," he said, and later, "So, I always tell my friends that the sequel is as much of a masterpiece as the first movie is."
WATCH: Park Chan-wook & Lee Byung-hun Defend Their Guilty Pleasures - Including a HATED Horror Sequel
If you're a well-versed horror fan, then your jaw might be hanging open. After all, The Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) is frequently regarded as one of the worst movies ever made, horror or otherwise. The sequel, directed by John Boorman, picks up four years after the terrifying events of The Exorcist. Remember that poetic ending of Father Karras (Jason Miller) reaffirming his faith and sacrificing himself for Regan (Linda Blair)? Well, The Exorcist II essentially tosses that aside to explain that the demon, Pazuzu, still hides inside her. Aside from that, there's a whole lot of talk about biofeedback devices, brainwaves, and psychic abilities.
To call its release a disaster is almost an understatement. According to The Exorcist: Out of the Shadows by Bob McCabe, the director of The Exorcist, William Friedkin labeled the sequel "a stupid mess made by a dumb guy." While that particular review feels overly cruel, considering Boorman made acclaimed hits like Deliverance (1972) and cult favorites like Point Blank (1967), most audiences and critics agreed that The Exorcist II paled in comparison to the original film, mainly because Boorman decided to go in his own bizarre direction with the idea.
'The Exorcist II' Barely Qualifies As A Horror Movie
In some ways, The Exorcist II feels like a slap across the face. Audiences who watch the movie expecting the same creeping dread and claustrophobic scares of the original film get a weird metaphysical thriller instead. The tone was purposeful on Boorman's part, who wanted a more positive movie that directly contrasted with the original's "ugliness" and "darkness." The issue: It's not what most fans wanted.
However, as Park Chan-wook proves, The Exorcist II still has its fans. There's a surreal, almost dream-like quality to the film that makes it feel unique. Considering Chan-wook is known for his vibrant visual style, it makes sense that he'd see the beauty in The Exorcist II's hallucinogenic flare. To call it a "masterpiece" feels like a bit of a stretch, but that's the fun of art: subjectivity. Because, let's be real, even though most people see 1973's The Exorcist as one of the greatest movies ever made, you can also bet it has haters.
Why To Watch 'The Exorcist II' (And What To Watch After)
Truthfully, The Exorcist II is one of those movies that people could appreciate for very different reasons. Those who love "so-bad-they're-good" movies might latch onto the movie's cheesier moments and stranger plot points. Others might connect with the trippy, abstract tone, especially if they favor surrealist cinema, just don't expect anything on the level of David Lynch. Honestly, having the approval of Chan-wook makes The Exorcist II worth the reevaluation alone. If the director of Old Boy (2003) and Lady Vengeance (2005) sees something magical in it, then why not give it a watch with an open mind? A quick scroll through Reddit proves The Exorcist II might not be as horrible as everyone says. Maybe it's just average, if a little far-out.
That said, if you're looking for a movie that better captures the spirit of The Exorcist, consider The Exorcist III (1990). Long revered as the superior sequel, it's arguably just as tense, atmospheric, and scary as the original. You'll get true psychological horror here that manages to deliver something unique while not veering off into left field like its predecessor. And, if you're asking me, The Exorcist (2016) TV series is a surprisingly compelling watch that doesn't get quite as much attention as it deserves. Seriously, check it out!
