10 Worst Horror Prequels Ever Made

4. Exorcist: The Beginning

Red Dragon Anthony Hopkins
Warner Bros. Pictures

No, not that one - the prequel to the exorcist which was borne out of fear that the other prequel to the exorcist (literally called Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist) wasn't much cop, and had Renny Harlin make his own version instead. Which, in turn, wasn't much cop, and wound up being worse than the first version.

The Beginning sees Father Merrin travelling East Africa, where he encounters demon Pazuzu - who will later come to possess Regan in The Exorcist. In spite of the best efforts of Stellan Skarsgard, The Beginning is dull studio fare, demistifying Merrin, Pazuzu and so much of what worked in The Exorcist in the process. Dominion is just a little bit better, but neither should have been made in the first place.

Contributor
Contributor

A film critic and professional writer of over ten years, Joel Harley has a deep and abiding love of all things horror, Batman and Nicolas Cage. He can be found writing online and in print, all over the Internet and in especially good bookstores.