Genre: Horror | Supernatural | Psychological Thriller
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Olivia Marcum, Lidya Jewett, Ellen Burstyn, and a surprise return from Linda Blair
After the polarizing reception of the 2023 The Exorcist: Believer, the franchise returns in 2025 with a more focused and terrifying installment. Still directed by David Gordon Green, Believer (2025) doubles down on the demonic lore, improves on its predecessor’s pacing, and offers a disturbing blend of psychological horror, faith-based dread, and intergenerational trauma.
The story picks up months after the events of the previous film. Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), now emotionally fractured from his daughter Angela's possession, seeks answers in the Vatican archives. But when a series of synchronized possessions begin manifesting across three continents, Victor finds himself drawn into a much deeper spiritual war.
He reconnects with Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and a now reclusive Regan (Linda Blair)—both still scarred by their past. Together with a defrocked priest and a skeptical psychologist, they face an ancient demonic entity that predates even Pazuzu.
The film explores not just the nature of possession, but the weaponization of belief, and the danger of denying the supernatural in an increasingly secular world.
Leslie Odom Jr. delivers a much more emotionally grounded and raw performance this time around. His character’s desperation and guilt are palpable, especially in scenes confronting the church’s bureaucratic coldness.
Ann Dowd, reprising her role as Sister Mary, is a haunting presence throughout the film—torn between her faith and fear. Linda Blair’s return is both touching and unsettling, offering some of the film’s most intense emotional scenes, particularly during her reunion with her mother.
David Gordon Green steps away from the stylistic experiments of Halloween Ends and returns to classic horror fundamentals: slow builds, chilling silences, and practical effects. The exorcism scenes are deeply unsettling—less about spinning heads and more about spiritual corrosion and psychological breakdown.
The cinematography leans into shadow and contrast, often lingering uncomfortably long on characters’ faces as they wrestle with their inner demons.
While still a supernatural horror at heart, Believer (2025) delves deeper into themes of:
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Inherited trauma and generational sin
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Institutional failure of the Church
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Globalized spiritual crisis
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The fine line between mental illness and possession
Unlike many horror sequels, this one attempts to say something, and while not always subtle, its ambitions are commendable.
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Stronger emotional core than the 2023 installment
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Linda Blair’s return adds gravitas and nostalgia
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Atmospheric horror over cheap scares
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Improved script and tighter pacing
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Thought-provoking spiritual and psychological themes
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Some exposition-heavy scenes drag the momentum
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Secondary characters are underdeveloped
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May not fully satisfy fans expecting more visceral horror
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Comparisons to the original Exorcist remain inevitable
The Exorcist: Believer (2025) marks a redemptive step forward for the modern trilogy. It's not as revolutionary as the 1973 original, but it earns its place in the franchise by being smarter, scarier, and more emotionally resonant than its predecessor.
