The Exorcist III
Movie, 1990, Regan MacNeil, Set in Lieutenant Kinderman
The Exorcist III is #3 of 7 in release order and #5 of 7 in chronological order in the The Exorcist.
The story
On the fifteenth anniversary of the exorcism that claimed Father Damien Karras' life, Police Lieutenant Kinderman's world is once again shattered when a boy is found decapitated and savagely crucified.
The Exorcist III recap
The Exorcist III (1990) follows detective William Kinderman as a string of Georgetown murders matches the work of an executed serial killer. William Peter Blatty writes and directs from his novel Legion, with George C. Scott as Kinderman. Fifteen years after Regan's exorcism, a boy is found beheaded, then a priest in the confessional, then Father Joseph Dyer (Ed Flanders) in his hospital bed. Each crime carries the signature of the Gemini Killer, James Venamun (Brad Dourif), who died in the electric chair on the night Father Karras fell. In a locked psychiatric ward Kinderman finds a patient brought in with amnesia fifteen years ago: Damien Karras (Jason Miller). The Gemini's spirit has been placed in Karras's body by the demon from the first film, as revenge, and he sends other elderly patients out to kill. It follows The Exorcist directly and ignores Exorcist II.
The Exorcist III ending explained
The Exorcist III ends with Father Paul Morning (Nicol Williamson) attempting an exorcism of Karras and being badly hurt. The demon nearly kills Kinderman, but Karras briefly breaks through and begs him to shoot; Kinderman does, freeing him, and later stands at Karras's grave. The studio forced the exorcism ending onto Blatty's cut, and a 2016 director's cut restores much of his version.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Exorcist III has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Exorcist III
The Exorcist III is streaming on Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock, Philo, Kanopy, and Hoopla in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 60%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Exorcist II: The Heretic, before Exorcist: The Beginning.
- Chronological order: after Exorcist II: The Heretic, before The Exorcist.
What to watch before The Exorcist III
In release order, the essentials before The Exorcist III (1990) are The Exorcist (1973) and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977).
Cast
- George C. Scott as Lt. William 'Bill' Kinderman
- Ed Flanders as Father Joseph Kevin Dyer
- Brad Dourif as James Venamun / The Gemini Killer
- Jason Miller as Father Damien Karras / Patient X
- Nicol Williamson as Father Morning
- Scott Wilson as Dr. Temple
- Nancy Fish as Nurse Allerton
- George DiCenzo as Stedman
- Don Gordon as Ryan
- Lee Richardson as University President
- Grand L. Bush as Sergeant Atkins
- Mary Jackson as Mrs. Clelia
Directed by William Peter Blatty.