Exorcist: The Beginning (2004): cast, story & where to watch
2004 · Film · ★ 5.4
Released in 2004, Exorcist: The Beginning is a thriller, horror and mystery film directed by Renny Harlin, running about 114 minutes. “Go back to where the horror began.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Having lived through traumatizing events during WWII, Father Lankester Merrin takes a sabbatical from the Church to conduct archaeological excavations in British-administered East Africa. Merrin unearths an ancient Byzantine church believed have been built and then immediately buried to keep down evil from the crypt below. The natives are convinced that uncovering the church has unleashed a demon, and begin to violently clash with the British military troops. As the village rapidly disintegrates into chaos and war, Merrin must face-off with the demon which has taken possession of somebody close to him.
Who’s in it. Exorcist: The Beginning stars Stellan Skarsgård as Father Lankester Merrin, Izabella Scorupco as Sarah Lesno, James D'Arcy as Father Francis and Julian Wadham as Major Granville, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, Exorcist: The Beginning has proved divisive with audiences. It went on to earn $78M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Exorcist: The Beginning page.
If you liked it. Fans of Exorcist: The Beginning tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)?
- In US, Exorcist: The Beginning is available to stream on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Exorcist: The Beginning worth watching?
- Exorcist: The Beginning holds an audience score of 5.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, horror and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Exorcist: The Beginning?
- Exorcist: The Beginning stars Stellan Skarsgård, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy, Julian Wadham and Remy Sweeney.
- When was Exorcist: The Beginning released?
- Exorcist: The Beginning was released in 2004, with a runtime of about 114 minutes.