10 Massively Underrated Horror Movies
2. The Exorcist III
The Exorcist is the fourth-highest grossing horror movie of all time, but none of its sequels have ever come close to equalling its acclaim, notoriety or box office feats. One almost matched its chills and sheer quality, though.
Directed by William Peter Blatty, who wrote the books the original film and its second sequel were based on, The Exorcist III follows the philosophical police lieutenant William F. Kinderman from the first movie as he investigates a series of murders that appear to have a Satanic motive behind them.
Father Karras from the original also returns, albeit from beyond the grave with the spirit of a deceased serial killer in control of his body and mind.
Exorcist III is a different animal to the first film, at times channelling the sheer terror and thought-provoking depth of its classic predecessor, while at others going for laughs with successful black humour or spacing the audience out with David Lynch-esque weirdness.
Blatty's director's cut was butchered by the studio and only pieced together and released for the first time last year, but even in its heavily altered cinematic form, the Exorcist III was never anything less than a worthy sequel.