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Movies / On DVD / Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

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Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)

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Reviews Counted:42

Fresh:12

Rotten:30

Average Rating:4.7/10

Consensus: While director Schrader's attempt at a literate, internal exposition on evil temptations and human sin is admirable, this prequel suffers from hit-and-miss psychological tension, poor visual effects, and weak writing -- an overambitious failure of a horror movie.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong violence and disturbing images.

Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Theatrical Release:May 20, 2005 Limited

Box Office: $236,901

Synopsis: Hollywood is littered with stories of aborted attempts at moviemaking, with many directors finding themselves unceremoniously ousted from a project when a studio gets cold feet and rejects their... Hollywood is littered with stories of aborted attempts at moviemaking, with many directors finding themselves unceremoniously ousted from a project when a studio gets cold feet and rejects their work. Writer-director Paul Schrader (AUTO FOCUS) found himself in this position when he completed filming on a prequel to 1973's THE EXORCIST in 2004. With Renny Harlin replacing Schrader in the director's chair, then reshooting the movie in its entirety, it seemed Schrader's vision would be forever shelved alongside countless other terminated projects. However, 2005 saw a remarkable turn of events, as Warner Bros allowed Schrader's version of the film to be released under the name DOMINION: PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST. Like Harlin's film, Stellan Skarsgard plays a young Father Lankester Merrin. Traveling to East Africa, Merrin hopes to forget the horrific events of World War II, and repair his tattered beliefs, which have significantly lapsed following the gruesome battles he unfortunately witnessed. Once there, the dejected priest runs into a team of archaeologists, who are unearthing a buried church which appears to have been concealed under the African landscape for several centuries. As Merrin helps the team with their discoveries, some brutal and bloody events break out, leading to his first encounter with the powerful demon who would return to haunt him in the original EXORCIST movie. While the plot is essentially the same as Harlin's film, Schrader's movie eschews Grand Guignol-esque gore, choosing to build up a dark, creepy atmosphere instead. Fans looking for gross-out delights will find themselves better-served by Harlin's version of events, but for anyone looking for a subtle counterpoint to the brutal butchery and violent profanity of the other films in the series, look no further than DOMINION. [More]

Starring: Stellan Skarsgaard, Gabriel Mann, Clara Bellar, Ralph Brown

Starring: Stellan Skarsgaard, Gabriel Mann, Clara Bellar, Ralph Brown

Director: Paul Schrader

Director: Paul Schrader
Screenwriter: Paul Schrader, Caleb Carr
Producer: James G. Robinson
Composer: Angelo Badalamenti, Trevor Rabin
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Release:

Oct 25, 2005

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
  • Historic filmmaking! 2 filmmakers take on the same film. The original prequel to The Exorcist by Paul Shrader. The film traces the story of Father Lankester Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard) back to his first encounter with the Devil in post-WW II Africa.
  • Source: Warner Home Video
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    04/29/09
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: CHUD | comment Comment
    02/27/09
    Devin Faraci
    Devin Faraci
    CHUD

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
    11/20/08
    Guylaine Cadorette
    Guylaine Cadorette
    Hollywood.com

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    08/07/08
    Jim Lane
    Jim Lane
    Sacramento News & Review
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
    08/16/07
    Dave Calhoun
    Dave Calhoun
    Time Out New York
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
    05/29/07
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Combustible Celluloid

    Neither a masterpiece nor a failure, it will probably appeal mostly to those with knowledge of its death and miraculous resurrection.

    Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
    03/01/07
    Lewis Beale
    Lewis Beale
    Film Journal International

    After 32 years, two sequels, and two prequels, The Exorcist remains an impossible act to follow.

    Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
    09/22/06
    Peter T. Chattaway
    Peter T. Chattaway
    Christianity Today

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
    04/01/06
    Empire Magazine
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    02/09/06
    Time Out

    “Dominion” isn’t outright horror, and a welcome relief from the days where shots are shorter than the hairs on our heads.

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    10/26/05
    Rory L. Aronsky
    Rory L. Aronsky
    Film Threat

    Apparently, Schrader never intended to make a horror movie, much to the dismay of the studio.

    Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
    10/22/05
    John J. Puccio
    John J. Puccio
    DVDTown.com

    tiresome and humdrum instead of thrilling

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
    10/14/05
    Chris Cabin
    Chris Cabin
    Filmcritic.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
    09/26/05
    AV Club

    An ambitious failure.

    Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
    06/14/05
    Jeff Otto
    Jeff Otto
    IGN Movies

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | comment Comment
    06/05/05
    Ethan Alter
    Ethan Alter
    NYC Film Critic

    Dominion is only incrementally better than Exorcist: The Beginning and, with both films sharing so many story elements, Harlin is guilty of merely rearranging the deck chairs on Schrader's Titanic.

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    06/02/05
    Mark Keizer
    Mark Keizer
    Boxoffice Magazine

    Schrader's intelligent, quietly subversive pic emphasizes spiritual agony over horror ecstasy, while paying occasional lip-service to the need for scares.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    05/26/05
    Leslie Felperin
    Leslie Felperin
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The flick is still plagued by occasional tedious patches, bad special effects and silly dialogue (it seems no one caught those problems on either director's watch).

    Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
    05/25/05
    E! Online

    Intriguing, then, mainly for historical and comparison purposes.

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
    05/25/05
    Bob Strauss
    Bob Strauss
    Los Angeles Daily News
     
     
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    Latest News for Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

    June 06, 2005: In Other News...Russell Crowe, Angelina Jolie, Lindsay Lohan and Dominion's Woes
    Russell Crowe was arrested in New York City after he hurled a broken telephone at a hotel concierge early Monday, hitting the man in the face.The Oscar winning actor, who is... More...

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