The Exorcist 3 (2025) – A Chilling Return to True Evil
The Exorcist 3 (2025) marks a bold and haunting continuation of one of the most iconic horror franchises in cinematic history. Directed by David Gordon Green, who previously rebooted the Halloween series, this film is not a remake but a direct sequel to the 1973 original, bypassing the events of previous sequels in favor of a streamlined and terrifying new narrative. It blends psychological horror, religious dread, and chilling atmosphere to deliver a story that feels both reverent and freshly disturbing.
Set decades after the exorcism of Regan MacNeil, the story follows a grieving father and former priest, Father Joseph Bennett, who is pulled back into the world of demonic possession after a series of horrific events occur in a quiet New England town. A young girl begins exhibiting violent, inexplicable behavior, and all signs point to a demonic force that has resurfaced—one tied not only to the original exorcism, but to something much older and more powerful. As Father Bennett teams up with a skeptical doctor and the girl’s tormented mother, they are forced to confront their own fears, traumas, and faith.
The film is slow-burning and atmospheric, favoring psychological tension over jump scares. It relies heavily on mood, silence, and suggestion to create an oppressive sense of unease. The use of lighting, shadow, and religious symbolism is meticulous, evoking the same sense of sacred terror that made the original Exorcist so impactful. The possession scenes are brutal yet grounded, making the horror feel intimate and deeply human rather than purely supernatural.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its cast. The lead performance by an as-yet-unnamed actor as Father Bennett is layered with guilt, sorrow, and inner conflict. His journey is not just a battle against evil, but a personal struggle with faith and forgiveness. The possessed girl, played with disturbing conviction by a young breakout star, brings genuine menace and vulnerability to her role. The dynamic between belief and science, tradition and skepticism, is thoughtfully explored, echoing the spiritual conflict at the core of the original.
The Exorcist 3 (2025) also honors its legacy through subtle callbacks and narrative ties. Without relying on nostalgia, it introduces new ideas while respecting what made the original a masterpiece. The horror is existential, not just physical—the fear of the unknown, of helplessness, of evil hiding behind familiar faces.
In the end, The Exorcist 3 (2025) stands as a strong spiritual successor that digs into the marrow of what made the first film legendary. It doesn’t aim for spectacle, but for dread—slow, creeping, and unrelenting. For fans of intelligent horror rooted in faith, trauma, and the eternal battle between good and evil, this film offers a powerful and terrifying new chapter.
