Gemini/Karras

 

I'm really proud of a bloated but passionate review I wrote for the blog of Blatty's The Exorcist III (1990) in May of 2016. So this is more of a slight addendum to that review. I still feel the added exorcism sequences and setpieces with priest, Nicol Williamson, hoping to rid Karras' body of the Gemini Killer (Dourif) is forced and rather Hollywood desperate. Morgan Creek clearly wanted some of the Exorcist ('73) shine, some of that rub. It's quite catchy with the demonic face of Karras and Williamson thrusted against the padded cell ceiling, ripped flesh and exploding bible, the whole good vs evil theme brought right back to life, the original film dusted off and rid of the mothballs for some of that imagery and showy special effects. Blatty was tasked to do it and did the best he could I guess. But Dourif in full throated form as Gemini, talking about the thrills and handiwork, while George C Scott, with pained and angered reactions, agonizes as Kinderman, for me is the real treat of the film. This is why I watch the film. This, Flanders as Father Dyer and Kinderman ribbing each other, Kinderman frustrated with his detectives, some eerie hospital and Catholic church scenes after murders by catatonics used by Gemini thanks to his Master, the haunting description of a child's murder by Kinderman, a rainy and tragically quiet room with Dyer's body under a sheet with bottles of all his drained blood on a table, Kinderman explaining to the hospital director the Gemini's MO and how recent deaths are so identical while trying to do so with a clear head after Dyer's death scene, the statue in the church made to resemble the Joker from Batman, the depiction of Karras on the cross rising from an abyss in his cell as well as the body Thomas's headless body with the creepy minstrel Jesus head and shirt (seen at the beginning of the film through a demonic spirit POV), and a weird dream sequence complete with angels Patrick Ewing and Fabio as heaven looks like a terminal. Georgetown 1990 gets plenty of use, too, as Blatty does spend time outside the hospital. This film has a lot of defenders, even despite it's obviously hindered production and interference by studio execs wanting to exploit as much as possible from its original film's namesake. The first time I watched it at my cousin's house on WGN late one Friday night, I just couldn't get into it. I was a kid and restless that night. This film is just such an adult film with careful pacing and has long monologue scenes and conversation pieces. I admit to expecting Exorcist impact scenes and this is about a serial killer using the not dead body of Karras as a vessel thanks to Satan. And Kinderman is much more involved and much more intense and Scott is such a powerhouse. I love Cobb in the original but Scott is also just a strong presence on screen. He lets scenes breathe and delivers a deliberate performance that seems to match Blatty's long takes when not inserting exorcism bits and pieces.

The film has that iconic poster of Scott looking down the infamous steps but that is quite misleading. We do see Karras fall down them, though.