Exorcist II: The Heretic
Movie, 1977, Regan MacNeil, Set in Four years later
Exorcist II: The Heretic is #2 of 7 in release order and #4 of 7 in chronological order in the The Exorcist.
The story
Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a research specialist free her from its grasp?
Exorcist II: The Heretic recap
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) finds Regan MacNeil in therapy four years on, as a priest investigates Father Merrin's death and alleged heresy. John Boorman directs, with Linda Blair back as Regan and Richard Burton as Father Philip Lamont. Regan, now 16, lives with her guardian Sharon Spencer (Kitty Winn) and says she remembers nothing, but her psychiatrist Dr. Gene Tuskin (Louise Fletcher) uses a device that links two people's brainwaves to reach her buried memories. Linked to Regan, Lamont sees Merrin's earlier exorcism of an African boy, Kokumo, and learns the demon is named Pazuzu, a spirit that appears as a swarm of locusts and preys on people with healing gifts. Lamont travels to Africa to find the grown Kokumo (James Earl Jones). Regan, meanwhile, shows a gift of her own by helping a girl with autism speak. It follows The Exorcist; Exorcist III ignores it.
Exorcist II: The Heretic ending explained
Exorcist II ends at the Georgetown house, where Pazuzu tempts Lamont with a demonic double of Regan. He tears out the double's heart while locusts flood the crumbling house, and Regan sends the swarm away with the same ritual Kokumo once tried. Sharon dies of burns outside, and Regan leaves with Lamont. Blatty's own sequel, Exorcist III, later carried on from the first film instead.
Post-credits scenes
No. Exorcist II: The Heretic has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Exorcist II: The Heretic
Exorcist II: The Heretic is streaming on TCM and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 3.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 10%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Exorcist, before The Exorcist III.
- Chronological order: after The Exorcist, before The Exorcist III.
What to watch before Exorcist II: The Heretic
The Exorcist (1973), which Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) continues.
Cast
- Richard Burton as Father Philip Lamont
- Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil
- Louise Fletcher as Dr. Gene Tuskin
- Max von Sydow as Father Lankester Merrin
- Kitty Winn as Sharon Spencer
- Paul Henreid as The Cardinal
- James Earl Jones as Older Kokumo
- Ned Beatty as Edwards
- Belinda Beatty as Liz
- Rose Portillo as Spanish Girl
- Barbara Cason as Mrs. Phalor
- Tiffany Kinney as Deaf Girl
Directed by John Boorman.