30
Metascore
22 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 50Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonChicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonThe movie goes too far on too little motivation - and the middle section, with its maggoty villains, roiling skies and native revolts, seems almost barmy. Yet Exorcist: Beginning does score a small victory. It's not as bad as you'd think.
- A perfectly mediocre horror film. There is some hoot-inducing dialogue and cheesy effects, but the film's workmanlike narrative marches gamely forward, managing a handful of respectable scares along the way.
- 50New York Daily NewsJack MathewsNew York Daily NewsJack MathewsNothing fails like bad horror. But it's not despicable. It is merely boring.
- 40VarietyJoe LeydonVarietyJoe LeydonEarns points simply for not being bad enough to leave a stain on the screen. Unfortunately, this annoyingly disjointed shocker stumbles badly after promising early scenes, and quickly devolves into a chaotic blur of underdeveloped characters, illogical transitions and standard-issue scary-movie tropes.
- 40Film ThreatFilm ThreatA horror movie that starts off decently but quickly falls victim to cliché. It is, ultimately, a disappointing genre entry, and one that falls far short of the original’s greatness.
- 40Village VoiceMichael AtkinsonVillage VoiceMichael AtkinsonThe gooseberry Harlin came up with will win no proselytizers, but it does have a pleasant matinee modesty, a cool sepia-period look, and an interesting flashback relationship with Nazis.
- 30The Hollywood ReporterKirk HoneycuttThe Hollywood ReporterKirk HoneycuttThe scariest thing about this film is how desperate the makers are to earn a scream.
- 30The New York TimesManohla DargisThe New York TimesManohla DargisThe risible dialogue, the bulging eyeballs, the heaving bosoms, the digitally rendered hyenas and squirming maggots, the movie fails to achieve the status of the instant camp classic. That's partly because the vibe of the film is too torpid.
- 25New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickThe acting is serviceable at best, the direction unfocused - and the special effects and makeup cheesy-looking. This is surely the most dreary-looking film ever shot by the great Vittorio Storaro ("Apocalypse Now").
- 20TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghPokey, blood-spattered, cheap-scare-larded prequel.