Ending Explained: The Exorcist: Believer’s Emotional Depth Unveiled

The Exorcist: Believer is a supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green. It’s the sixth movie in The Exorcist franchise and serves as a direct sequel to the original film from 1973. The movie stars actors like Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O‘Neill, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd. Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair reprise their roles from the first film. The plot follows a photographer dealing with evil when his daughter and her friend get possessed. The movie was released in 2023 and received mixed reviews from critics.

Quick Plot Summary

The Exorcist: Believer is a movie about a man named Victor and his daughter Angela. After a scary incident in the woods, Angela becomes possessed by a demon. Victor seeks help from different religious leaders to perform an exorcism and save his daughter. The demon gives them a difficult choice: one girl must die for the other to live. With faith and bravery, Victor and the others fight to save Angela. In the end, a brave decision is made, and Angela is saved while her friend Katherine is taken by the demon. The movie shows that with love and faith, even in the scariest times, we can overcome evil.

Ending Explanation

The ending of The Exorcist: Believer is packed with emotional and thematic depth. Here’s what it means:

1. Revelation of Choice: The demon’s revelation that Victor originally chose to save his wife, Sorenne, not Angela, highlights the theme of difficult choices and the burden of their consequences. Despite his choice, Angela survived, adding complexity to Victor’s guilt and grief.

2. Return of Faith: Victor’s loss of faith was a significant part of his character’s journey. In the climax, as he prays and uses Sorenne’s scarf to strengthen Angela, it symbolizes his return to faith, not just in a religious sense, but faith in love, hope, and the possibility of redemption.

3. Sacrifice and Love: Tony’s decision to save Katherine (though it backfires) and the collective refusal to choose between the girls underscore the themes of love and sacrifice. These acts demonstrate the characters’ unwillingness to forsake their loved ones, even when faced with an impossible choice.

4. The Demon’s Choice: The twist that the demon’s choice meant death for Katherine flips the expected outcome on its head, emphasizing the demon’s manipulative and malevolent nature. It reflects the unpredictable and often cruel nature of such battles, where even the right choices can have devastating outcomes.

5. Reunions and Forgiveness: The ending scenes with Angela returning to school, Victor visiting Sorenne’s grave, and Chris being forgiven by Regan, suggest themes of healing, forgiveness, and moving forward. Despite the trauma and loss, there’s a sense of beginning anew, with the characters finding peace in their own ways.

6. Final Message: Ultimately, The Exorcist: Believer conveys that faith, love, and the strength found in unity can confront evil. However, it also presents a realistic portrayal of the complexities of human emotion and the unpredictable nature of life and death, leaving viewers with a mix of hope and sorrow.

This blend of themes and emotions makes the movie’s ending both impactful and thought-provoking, offering a rich narrative experience.

Similar Movies

If you’re looking for movies similar to The Exorcist: Believer (L’esorcista – Il credente), you might be interested in films that blend themes of supernatural horror with elements of possession and exorcism, often featuring strong character development and psychological depth. Here are several recommendations:

1. The Conjuring (2013) – Directed by James Wan, this film is based on the real-life paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren. It follows the haunting of the Perron family and the Warrens’ attempts to help them. The movie spawned its own successful franchise.

2. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) – Directed by Scott Derrickson, this film combines the legal drama and horror genres to tell the story of a lawyer who takes on a negligent homicide case involving a priest who performed an exorcism.

3. Hereditary (2018) – Directed by Ari Aster, this supernatural horror film delves into the dark secrets of a family’s ancestry and the sinister fate they seem unable to escape. It’s renowned for its intense atmosphere and psychological horror.

4. The Rite (2011) – Inspired by true events, this film directed by Mikael Håfström stars Anthony Hopkins as a veteran exorcist who teaches a skeptical seminary student about the dark reality of demonic possession.

5. Insidious (2010) – Directed by James Wan, this film explores a realm called The Further and follows a family’s attempts to rescue their son from being trapped in this dark place. It’s noted for its atmospheric tension and jump scares.

6. Sinister (2012) – Directed by Scott Derrickson, this film follows a true-crime writer who discovers a box of home movies that puts his family in supernatural danger. It’s acclaimed for its use of suspense and the supernatural.

7. Annabelle (2014) – A spin-off from “The Conjuring,” directed by John R. Leonetti, it tells the story of a possessed doll. While not directly about exorcism, it features themes of demonic possession and the supernatural.

8. The Possession (2012) – Directed by Ole Bornedal, this film is inspired by the alleged true story of the Dybbuk Box, focusing on a girl who becomes increasingly erratic after purchasing an antique box at a yard sale.

9. The Amityville Horror (1979/2005) – Both the original and the remake tell the story of a family who moves into a house where a mass murder was committed and experiences supernatural phenomena.

These films share thematic elements with “The Exorcist: Believer,” such as dealing with demonic possession, the impact of supernatural forces on families, and the struggle between faith and evil.

Reference: Wikipedia