Click to read the article
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
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.
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Oct 25, 2005
Reviews for Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
Neither a masterpiece nor a failure, it will probably appeal mostly to those with knowledge of its death and miraculous resurrection.
After 32 years, two sequels, and two prequels, The Exorcist remains an impossible act to follow.
“Dominion” isn’t outright horror, and a welcome relief from the days where shots are shorter than the hairs on our heads.
Apparently, Schrader never intended to make a horror movie, much to the dismay of the studio.
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.
Schrader's intelligent, quietly subversive pic emphasizes spiritual agony over horror ecstasy, while paying occasional lip-service to the need for scares.
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).
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...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist at Rotten Tomatoes
- Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist at IGN
- Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.

Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



