“The Exorcist: Believer” Set to Haunt Philippine Cinemas on October 4
Universal Pictures International is preparing to release “The Exorcist: Believer” in Philippine cinemas on October 4, with special midnight screenings on opening day. The film centers around two teenage girls who unwittingly bring a demonic spirit back from the woods, forever altering their lives.
To mark the 50th anniversary since the original blockbuster hit theaters, “The Exorcist: Believer” promises to take audiences to the darkest heart of evil. Producer Jason Blum expressed the team’s desire to honor the groundbreaking nature of the 1973 film with this continuation. The star-studded cast includes Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Lidya Jewett, Olivia Marcum, Ellen Burstyn, and Tracey Graves.
While the original film mainly explored demonic possession from a Catholic perspective, “The Exorcist: Believer” embraces multiple faiths in its battle to save the two young girls. Director David Gordon Green elaborated on the film’s themes, stating that it addresses the vulnerability of parenthood when faced with an unexplainable illness in a child. The characters’ responses to such a crisis are shaped by their individual belief systems, be it a devout Baptist family, non-believers, or those who seek solace in the medical world. Green emphasized that the film delves into the intersection of science and spirituality.
The movie introduces four community faith leaders who embark on a mission to rescue the teenage girls: Catholic priest Father Maddox (E.J. Bonilla), Stuart, a Pentecostal preacher (Danny McCarthy), Doctor Beehibe, a root doctor (Okwui Okpokwasili), and Pastor Don Revans, a Baptist preacher (Raphael Sbarge). Carla Duren, the production’s spiritual coordinator, revealed that many of the rituals and spells depicted in the film draw inspiration from real exorcism rites and practices, including Doctor Beehibe’s methods rooted in African spiritual and healing traditions.
“The Exorcist: Believer” will unleash its terrifying tale nationwide in Philippine cinemas on October 4, distributed by Universal Pictures International.
