Summary
With the two coming out in close succession to one another, Joshua J Miller and M.A. Fortin address the comparisons betweenThe ExorcismandThe Pope’s Exorcist. The duo, best known for the meta horror comedyThe Final Girlsand crime thrillerQueen of the South, co-wrote the new Russell Crowe horror movie, with Miller directing, and the story revolving around a horror movie’s production becoming afflicted by a supernatural presence. The movie comes a year after the release ofThe Pope’s Exorcist, in which Crowe also starred, and whose subgenreThe Exorcismis meant to be a meta twist on.
Ahead of the movie’s release,Screen RantinterviewedJoshua J Miller and M.A. Fortin to discussThe Exorcism. When asked about the unique casting of Crowe following his turn inThe Pope’s Exorcist, the duo acknowledged that there was never “an intention” for the casting to directly follow the 2023 movie, though that it ultimately lends to both titles to “have a conversation with one another”. See what the duo explained below:
Joshua J Miller: No, not really. I think that wasn’t the intention, but in a weird way, we kind of like how the two of them have a conversation with one another. I have not seen the movie, to be honest. I’m not an exorcism genre fan, which is why we wanted to do something different with our movie. We love horror.
M.A. Fortin: And we love the grandpappy Exorcist.
Joshua J Miller: We like other subgenres, but to answer that question, I was like, “This is an interesting conversation.” And what I mean by that is, “Oh, that movie exists, and now, there’s the making of maybe that movie, or some version of that movie.” So, I think that’s kinda cool. It’s sort of a happy accident.
Will The Exorcism Match The Pope’s Exorcist’s Success?
More than just coming a year after the 2023 movie’s debut,The Exorcismalso comes at an interesting time, asdevelopment is currently underway onThe Pope’s Exorcist 2with Crowe expected to return as the titular priest, Father Gabriel Amorth. Given his new film appears to be a more straightforward and isolated story, it doesn’t seem to be as focused on setting up a sequel, for which a strong box office return would be needed. That said, even if it isn’t out to start a new franchise, eyes are still on whetherThe Exorcismwill match Crowe’s prior movie success.
Despite garnering mixed reviews from critics,The Pope’s Exorcistproved to be a surprising box office smash, grossing over $77 million against its $18 million production budget. The 2023 film even went on to find further success upon its debut on Netflix a few months later, ranking as the No. 1 movie for the streamer for nine days straight. GivenThe Exorcismis releasing in a similar window to Crowe’s previous movie and as the summer box office is starting to see an uptick thanks toBad Boys: Ride or DieandInside Out 2, it could very well follow in its footsteps.
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The biggest hurdle facingThe Exorcismin its potential matching ofThe Pope’s Exorcistsuccess is the poor reviews the movie has received thus far. Unlike the 2023 title, which saw a very positive 81% approval score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2024 film has seen a far more mixed response from critics and audiences, sitting at a 32% from critics and 50% from audiences at the time of writing. However, with few other major new titles coming to the screen in its opening weekend, Crowe could very well have another horror hit on his hands.
The Exorcism
Cast
A troubled actor, Anthony Miller, portrayed by Russell Crowe, begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His daughter, Lee, played by Ryan Simpkins, suspects his erratic behavior might be due to his past addictions or something far more sinister. As the film progresses, the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, leading to a tense and chilling climax.
The Pope’s Exorcist
Follow Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s leading exorcist, as he investigates the possession of a child and uncovers a conspiracy the Vatican has tried to keep secret.
