Timothy Dalton Movie:

Possessed [Region 2] Reviews:
An intelligent film about exorcism with scare power.
2009-11-08 - I had only seen about 7-8 minutes of the film's finale. I went out and purchased this film. I was entertained and shocked by the film. It has an excellent and talented cast that believes in their interpretation of this material.

Please tell me this is a joke!
2008-12-05 - I've got to agree with 'Historical Fiction Fan' on this one, and then some. I recorded this, hoping that Timothy Dalton's presence would lend some credence to the subject of the movie. After 20-30 minutes or so, I had to stop and do a web search on this thing to see whether or not it had been mislabeled as a drama. It certainly seemed to start out that way, but about as soon as it turned towards the young boy, who appears to become possessed (or something anyway), it just went way too over the top. I couldn't help but laugh. If I had seen this in a theater, I would have been laughing so hard, I might have been heckled out of the show. The fact that the movie rotates from serious to seemingly comical so quickly just makes it worse (or funnier). I find it hard to believe that this was not done intentionally. I have a feeling that the actors all pulled a big one over on everyone and are still laughing quite hard about it today. I'm not even sure what to say about those who have commented on the wonderfully serious and honest approach that they thought this movie gave to the subject. Am I missing a big inside joke here?!
I'll watch the rest of it, but I can't see how it could possibly turn itself around. It's like one of those old Saturday Night fake commercials, where you think you're watching a real commercial and then it just gets weird, and then you finally reaize it's a joke. Only this time, I don't think there's really supposed to be a punchline.

Fascinating case, terrible movie
2008-11-08 - In this Showtime TV-movie, based upon a supposed real case of exorcism, Timothy Dalton plays a priest who becomes drawn into a situation with a young boy supposedly possessed.

The performances are stone serious or absurdly childish, there is no suspense to be found in the writing, effects or production design, and it left me disappointed that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't take the film seriously. It isn't delivered in a believable way, and becomes lost in mediocrity.

I can't recommend the film, but I can somewhat recommend the book, which is at least a somewhat interesting, if not all too convincing read.

Underwritten and Overacted
2007-10-02 - I started watching this movie, knowing nothing about it, and having missed the first 5 minutes or so, and I kept trying to figure out if it was a comedy or not. The cast seemed stilted and out of place - the whole thing was just weird. I was scared out of my mind by the Exorcist, but the look and feel of this movie was not convincing and, consequently, not at all scary to me. The actors just didn't seem to fit the movie, especially the child who was supposed to be possessed - nobody really looked their part in a convincing way. Strange - that's all I can say.

Find more of what was needed in The Exorcist here.
2007-05-28 - I enjoyed this film a lot more than any or all of the Exorcist films, primarily because it tends to stick a little closer to the facts in the case (yes it still throws hollywood tricks in to make it more exciting) and details more of the innner life of the priests. Timothy Dalton is great and his camaraderie with the other priest in the story is terrific. When I saw any version of The Exorcist I was always fascinated by the priests and wanted more of their stories and their struggles. This movie gives you more of that and shows them realistically faltering on their own to learn about and perform the exorcism rite. No exorcism film comes closer to the real facts (internet study shows it was not quite so fantastic as this film or any makes out) or is more entertaining than this one.