I have to kind of collect some thoughts and sleep on it, but after finishing Paul Schrader's Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005) I'm still a bit mixed about it. It's a quieter, more contemplative film than Harlin's (which I don't dislike unlike many who watched mainly because of Vittorio Storaro's cinematography), and I like how Skarsgard never decided to take the Father Merrin character into hysterics, maintaining a dignity, integrity, maturity, and poise despite the horrors he sees, has seen, and will see. Gabriel Mann was a bit stiff and bland to me as the young priest sent to Merrin as a pupil who has studied him and is Vatican approved. Because Merrin was "on sabbatical" and his faith (not surpringly) weak due to a terrible experience during the Holocaust, the Church felt the need to send a young whipper snapper to Kenya (with the Brits holding some strength in the African region) to see how he's spiritually holding up. The film follows his solemnity and spiritual doubt, having to address the uprising evil possessing a diseased kid (Billy Crawford; which heals his body even as a guide of supposed holy effect), contend with an aware lust for a nurse (Clara Bellar), and witness an eerily similar situation involving the military and local people whose lives are at risk (Ralph Brown is the Sgt Major who seems to react hostilely when two of his men attempt to steal jewels from a statue inside a church buried under rock that is the focus of an archeological dig and are found murdered similarly to Peter and John, the Baptist).
The church discovered and it's architectural design, with the angel statues guarding the evil force hidden by the rock that surrounded and covered the structure and it's confines is my personal favorite part of the film. A marvel that impressed me a great deal. We get a good look inside, too.
Special effects, which were a product of Schrader getting little support from the studio, the worst part, I think. Harlin got better support in that regard.
The story centers its aim towards evil and it's effects and how God is questioned for not intervening. Schrader deeply cares about this and it shows. Linda Blair pea soup puking, head turning around, and jaw dropping possession madness not on the agenda, here.
The church discovered and it's architectural design, with the angel statues guarding the evil force hidden by the rock that surrounded and covered the structure and it's confines is my personal favorite part of the film. A marvel that impressed me a great deal. We get a good look inside, too.
Special effects, which were a product of Schrader getting little support from the studio, the worst part, I think. Harlin got better support in that regard.
The story centers its aim towards evil and it's effects and how God is questioned for not intervening. Schrader deeply cares about this and it shows. Linda Blair pea soup puking, head turning around, and jaw dropping possession madness not on the agenda, here.
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