Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

Name: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: May 20, 2005
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Gabriel Mann, Stellan Skarsgård

2005

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Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: May 20, 2005 | R

Starring: Gabriel Mann, Stellan Skarsgård

Summary: Paul Schrader's version of the prequel, before it was remade by Renny Harlin and released as "Exorcist: The Beginning."

Director: Paul Schrader

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 117 min

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Critic Reviews

100

David Sterritt

The material is right up Schrader's alley, and while his vision of the first "Exorcist" chapter isn't a masterpiece, it's far superior to the Renny Harlin prequel to "The Exorcist" released last year. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Instead of cheap thrills, Schrader gives us a frightening vision of a good priest who fears goodness may not be enough. Read full review

David Edelstein

It's a good, thoughtful horror picture--and thiiis close to being a very good one. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Maybe nothing here is supposed to be as scary as in the 1973 movie because this is merely the opening act. That's the problem with prequels, isn't it? It's like being asked to pay full price just to watch batting practice. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Schrader, in Auto Focus, displayed a devious sense of sin, but in Dominion the Calvinist schoolboy in him insists on trumping sin with guilt. Read full review

Stephen Holden

There's no escaping that "Dominion" is finally an act of commercial scavenging. You may retrieve the eggshells, coffee grounds and banana peels from your trash and assemble them into a cute, novelty gift basket. But if you bend down and take a whiff, your nose is still met with the scent of garbage. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Devoid of thrills, and with nothing even vaguely frightening to distract moviegoers, it becomes clear that the story wasn't worth telling in the first place. Read full review

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User Reviews

robertashfield

Sep 17, 2012

saw it years ago, it blew everyone away, (in my theatre at least), after a dismal renny harlin-directed "film" of 2004, this was quite a bounce back to the high standards that the original exorcist set

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

violentmilk

Sep 17, 2012

The only film in the series that does the first one justice.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mcmanusthebrave

Sep 17, 2012

A far superior film to beginning, though the ending exorcism is a little, you know, uninteresting, it is still a great film, i recommend it to anyone who loves the odd horror flick

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcD.

Oct 27, 2006

A year after the first prequel, we see the version which was originally made. Unfortunately, horror has never been so pretentious. Long, self indulgent and extremely dull...this movie is only notable for the peformance of Skarsgard (Merrin) and a rather curious monologue by Satan himself. A year after the first prequel, we see the version which was originally made. Unfortunately, horror has never been so pretentious. Long, self indulgent and extremely dull...this movie is only notable for the peformance of Skarsgard (Merrin) and a rather curious monologue by Satan himself. He spits. He grimaces. He snarls. He gesticulates. He talks...and talks...and talks. And we...get really bored.… Expand

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robertoiglesias

Oct 14, 2018

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. and Exorcist: The Beginning are 2 different prequels to the Exorcist. Both prequels are bad,
What's wrong with this film is that it is empty, slow, and has dumb moments. The other film was more complete, faster, but was a bit dumber and was a bitDominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. and Exorcist: The Beginning are 2 different prequels to the Exorcist. Both prequels are bad,
What's wrong with this film is that it is empty, slow, and has dumb moments. The other film was more complete, faster, but was a bit dumber and was a bit confusing.
In the end, I like Exorcist: The Beginning a little bit more. I like the a bit entertaining horror and the story more than the unwelcoming simple but tame, dull film.
Out of 100, I give Exorcist: The Beginning 41/100 and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist 40/100.
However, I hate both prequels to be fair.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

FilipeNeto

Jun 28, 2018

This film is the personal Paul Schrader's version of the prequel "The Exorcist: The Beginning", that he had envisioned before being removed from the direction of this film. So, it was a film shot by vanity. In any case, there is no doubt that this director is much superior, in quality andThis film is the personal Paul Schrader's version of the prequel "The Exorcist: The Beginning", that he had envisioned before being removed from the direction of this film. So, it was a film shot by vanity. In any case, there is no doubt that this director is much superior, in quality and competence, than the man who found him to replace him in "Beginning", and this is reflected in the comparison between both films. Which of the directors copied the other is that I don't know because they made two movies that are practically Siamese twins surgically separated. This film also tells of the first confrontation between the devil Pazuzu and Father Merrin, is also a prequel to "The Exorcist", it also includes a Byzantine chapel buried in Africa (even bad ideas were maintained by both, since the Byzantines have never been in Kenya and neither does the chapel seem Byzantine) and also includes Stellan Skarsgård in the lead role. However, this film is superior in the way the plot is developed and closed, and in the way the horror is presented: drier, less fanciful and visual, with more containment and care in the special effects and a greater attention to the suspense, so necessary in horror. The film also attempts to weave several theological and philosophical ideas opposing the Catholic faith, the native beliefs, the skepticism of science and the occult and supernatural forces, in a broth of ideas that ends up not having a clear orientation nor carrying an evident idea or message. It's generally better than "Beginning", but it's still a long way from being a really good movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

babygorgeous

Oct 14, 2018

I'm sorry but I hate this film. It didn't interest me or scare me. In fact, it just made me bored and honestly, I like the other prequel a bit more.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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