..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

August 21, 2004

Editor's Note: It is not standard practice for MCN to publish any materials created in the process of development or production of a movie. We believe strongly that the process is damaged, not enhanced, by the premature addition of public opinion into the process.

The following is an exception to that rule for two reasons. First, the film that resulted is in distribution already. Second, the information is coming from someone who is willing to put his name to the materials... it is not an anonymous report from someone "sneaking a peek" or an insider offering a possibly tainted personal perspective under the veil of anonymity.

While anonymous sourcing is a part of the process in all of journalism, it often falls into the realm of gossip, even when it is published by well-established publications. The line between actual news and gossip, muckraking or studio servicing can be very blurry in the film business. MCN hopes that the carefully considered decision to run this particular story does not signal any acceptance of an ever lowering journalistic bar.

Finally a disclosure... MCN editor David Poland is a friend of William Wisher. The fact that the following materials are supportive of Wisher's work is not in any way relevant to our determination that it is newsworthy. It is completely coincidental and this information was absolutely unsolicited.

This decision was considered carefully and if you have an opinion about it, we encourage you to express it by writing us at editor@moviecitynews.com.

We received the following e-mail on Friday -

Subject : Exorcist: The Beginning

I'm so upset after seeing this abomination of a film that I'm doing the only thing I can to get the word out about how much better in every respect the original script for this project was. From mid-2000 to the fall of last year, I worked as the Director of Development for Intertainment (the German-based financing and distribution company best known for its lawsuit against Elie Samaha and Franchise Pictures). In November of 2000, Morgan Creek submitted a draft of what was then called "Exorcist: Dominion" to us.

I loved the script. I thought the atmosphere of the piece was better than even Friedkin's original film from 1973. It remained true to the spirit of the EXORCIST "franchise," while going much deeper into exploring the nature of faith, and what it takes to regain it once it's lost. I did coverage on the script (which I've attached), and recommended that we pursue co-financing the project. Due to the developing issues with Franchise, my company's focus was elsewhere, though.

As you'll see from the coverage, the Renny Harlin version is vastly different in tone, scope, plot, and characters. Harlin and the producers chose to make a cheap, tawdry, vulgar slasher movie, as opposed to the thoughtful, provocative, and dare I say "meaningful" version that William Wisher created. It is inconceivable to me that any rational person could think that the Alexi Hawley version was better. Seeing dreck like this actually being released seriously makes me reconsider my decision to work in development.

I am looking forward to the rumored release of Schrader's version on the eventual DVD; Schrader's past history as both a writer and director lead me to believe he really was the perfect director to shoot the original version of this sequel.

Feel free to use this e-mail or the coverage itself in a Hot Button column, or on MovieCityNews.com if you so desire. I think audiences and readers deserve to know what they're missing by having the Harlin version foisted upon them. You have my permission to reprint the coverage in full. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Best,

Jason Pritchett

__________________________________________________________________

THE COVERAGE

TITLE: EXORCIST DOMINION	SUBMITTED BY:
AUTHOR: WILLIAM WISHER	SUBMITTED TO: INTERTAINMENT
AUTHOR 2:	x
FORMAT: SP/126pgs	DATE RECEIVED: 11/10/2000
DRAFT DATE: 03/26/2000	READ BY/DATE: JASON PRITCHETT 11/15/2000
GENRE: HORROR/THRILLER	LOCALE: AFRICA, HOLLAND
CIRCA: 1944-1947	BUDGET: MEDIUM

LOG LINE: While excavating an ancient church in Africa, a young Father Merrin must deal with a demon-possessed young boy, while also coming to terms with his faltering faith.

COMMENTS SUMMARY: From the standpoint of plot alone, EXORCIST DOMINION is actually a better story than its highly lauded predecessor. The dialogue isn't quite up to the standards of the original film, but on sheer creepiness and edginess alone, this script is superior. The recent re-release of THE EXORCIST shows that people still value both a good scare and this franchise.
__________________________________________________________________

	EXCELLENT	GOOD	FAIR	POOR
PREMISE	X	x	x	x
CHARACTERIZATION	X...	...X	x	x
DIALOG	x	X	x	x
STRUCTURE	x	X	x	x
SETTING	X...	...X	xx	xx
OVERALL WRITING ABILITY	x	X	x	x

PROJECT RECOMMENDATION: RECOMMEND
WRITER RECOMMENDATION: CONSIDER

SYNOPSIS: In a small village in Holland in 1944, FATHER MERRIN is forced by Nazi commander KESSEL to choose 10 of his parishioners to be executed. If Merrin doesn't choose, Kessel will kill everyone. Merrin hesitates, and Kessel starts randomly shooting people. A horrifed Merrin prays to God for help, but receives no answer. Broken, he starts pointing out 10 people. Three years later, in British East Africa, Merrin is heading up an archaeological dig. He's summoned by British Army captain HUGHES who tells him that FATHER AMBROSE will accompany him on the rest of the dig. Merrin protests, saying that he's really not part of the church anymore and that he would prefer to go it alone. Hughes insists, knowing that Merrin's about to uncover something big.

Ambrose and Merrin head back into the field. Ambrose doesn't like the "savages," as he calls the native villagers, even though he's about to start a missionary school near where Merrin is digging. Merrin shows Ambrose the dig site. It's clear that they are about to unearth an ancient church, and Merrin thinks it may be the church of St. George, the dragonslayer. A small orphan boy named FASSI watches them from a distance. Native helper KIO tells Merrin that everyone thinks Fassi is cursed, because his mother was raped by a soldier.

Merrin finally uncovers the entrance to the church and is awed by the stunning jeweled statues and carvings inside. But something seems to linger, a strange sense of silence. Just then, hyenas start howling all around the outskirts of the village. Merrin sleeps restlessly that night. The hyenas hover just outside his window. Merrin sees the crippled Fassi again the next morning, and takes him to HELENA, the Jewish doctor in the village. She promises to do what she can for his grossly infected leg.

Helena, lonely and needing someone to talk to, asks Merrin to dinner. He agrees. She questions him about the rumors she's heard about him. He tells her the story about Kessel. Helena seems to be hiding a secret of her own, but doesn't reveal anything. She does, however, tell Merrin that his insistence that God doesn't exist anymore is foolish, and that she thinks that's not really what he believes.

At the church dig the next day, Merrin, Kio, and Ambrose discover that the church isn't St. George's, but rather St. Michael's, who cast Satan into hell. They find a door leading down into a horrific, dark chamber. A huge winged demon statue looks down at them and a stone altar is discovered. It's covered in ancient blood stains. They quickly leave. Ambrose wants to tell the Catholic Church what's going on, but Merrin refuses, saying he wants to explore more. Merrin notices that the hyenas are gone now.

The next day, Kio tells Merrin that the villagers won't work at the site anymore. They're afraid, and think that Merrin has uncovered pure evil. Kio also shows them an entire field of dead cattle. They've been butchered by the hyenas. Suddenly, Hughes and his platoon come roaring into town. Merrin is furious-Ambrose has called them in. Merrin goes to check on Fassi and is stunned to find his skin burned and bloodied. Fassi tells them that the "dragon" that Merrin uncovered burned him. Later, Helena tells Merrin she thinks Fassi may be suffering from leprosy.

That night, two SOLDIERS break into the church to steal jewels. They're found the next morning, crucified on their own rifles and attached to one another. Hughes demands that Merrin find out which of the native workers murdered the soldiers. Village elder EMEKWI runs up to Merrin, saying that he needs to come see Fassi. Merrin finds Fassi with Helena. Fassi escaped during the night, and now has cuts and bruises all over him. Ambrose shows up and is stunned that the boy speaks to them in English, Latin and several other languages, when he could barely speak at all before. Ambrose and Helena leave Merrin with Fassi. Fassi starts insulting Merrin and mocking him for his lack of faith. Ambrose returns and tries to get Merrin to admit that this is now a religious matter. Merrin refuses. Ambrose is conflicted.

Meanwhile, an enraged Hughes has herded all the villagers into the town square at gunpoint. He screams at them to admit who killed his soldiers, and promises to start killing the villagers if no one comes forward. Merrin sees this and stops him immediately, reliving the horror of the incident in Holland. Later that night, Ambrose tells Merrin that he wired the Vatican, and they're sending a delegation to investigate Fassi. Ambrose wants to exorcise him immediately, before they arrive. Merrin can't bring himself to agree, but Helena says she'll help. Merrin reluctantly relents, too.

The villagers are stirred up as well, and begin a ceremony of their own to rid their community of evil. They dance around a bonfire, while the British soldiers watch from a hilltop in amazement. The hyenas encircle the village again, and begin howling. Soon, lions, cheetahs, and other animals join them in a terrifying chorus.

Ambrose begins the exorcism with Helena's help as Merrin sits by silently. Fassi is tied to his bed. He curses them and spits out a stream of maggots and blood. Fassi turns to Helena, calling her a Jew murdering whore. She collapses, sobbing. Outside, the villagers' chanting reaches a crescendo and the animals howling becomes otherworldly. Hughes kills himself in the church, guilty about almost killing the villagers. His SERGEANT-MAJOR watches in disbelief.

Suddenly, the animals rush into the village and the soldiers' compound, overwhelming the men and ripping them to shreds. The possessed Fassi breaks free of his bindings and rises into the air. The villagers' spears float as well, and Fassi throws Ambrose onto the spears. He screams in horror as Fassi moves the spears into the huge bonfire. Ambrose is both impaled and burned to death. Helena, Merrin, and the Sergeant-Major and a few soldiers are the only people to survive the demonic massacre.

The next morning, after burying Ambrose and some of the soldiers, Merrin and a broken Helena see a bus full of priests from Vatican pull up. CARDINAL GREGORY and FATHER ELLIOT are the leaders. Elliot has heard about Merrin. They debate the existence of God, with Elliot saying that the evil Merrin has witnessed is actually proof that God exists. The priests demand to see Fassi. The remaining villagers have put him into the ancient church, which is now covered with a layer of ice and frost.

Elliot and Gregory question the demon inside of Fassi. Initially, they don't believe he's actually possessed, but then the demon calmly tells Elliot about a daughter that he fathered out of wedlock. She's dying of stomach cancer. The demon makes Elliot feel the pain she's going through. He is devastated. They end the session. Gregory wants to take Fassi back to Rome as an exhibit to show that God exists. Helena and Merrin warn him that Fassi the boy will not survive the trip, as his physical body is near death. Elliot hears this and secretly asks Merrin and Helena to perform another exorcism. He can't face it again.

Helena, still troubled by something, finally tells Merrin that while in the concentration camps, she slept with Nazi soldiers to protect herself and didn't tell anyone she was a doctor, because the Nazis killed doctors. She watched thousands of Jews die, and didn't help any of them. Merrin comforts her. Merrin and Helena enter the ancient church, leaving the Sergeant-Major outside to prevent anyone else, including Gregory from coming in. Merrin begins the ritual as the demon screams and curses him. Merrin falters when the demon causes him to have a vision of his parishioners that were killed. He cries out when he sees the image of Kessel. Helena picks up the ritual book and continues.

The demon picks up Helena and throws her across the room, breaking her neck. Merrin cries out in horror. The demon leaves Fassi's body and possesses Helena, bringing her back to life, taunting and teasing Merrin. Merrin shoves a needle into Helena, giving her an overdose of adrenalin, killing her physical body and banishing the demon. Fassi cries out for Merrin in a weak voice.

Georgetown, 1973. An shadowy older Father Merrin approaches Chris MacNeil's house…

COMMENTS: EXCORCIST DOMINION does a great job of keeping the spirit and tone of the original book and film, while also creating a unique and thrilling environment. Father Merrin's battle with his own personal demons (i.e., his waning faith) is fascinating and the world that author Wisher places him in is both exotic and terrifying. If there's a way for us to be involved in this project, we should definitely explore it.

Wisher kicks off the script with a gut-wrenching sequence that shows the reader exactly why Merrin would lose his faith. It's horrifying, but also visceral and believable. With just a few pages, Wisher is able to absolutely ground Merrin in reality while also explaining more about a character than most authors can in an entire script. The transition to Africa works smoothly as well, although it does take a little while before it's clear exactly who all of the British officers and clergymen are.

The description of the ancient church and the pagan altar found beneath it is creepy and awe-inspiring. It would have been even more so, though, if Wisher had gone just a bit deeper into the history of the church and why evil seemed to congregate there. That being said, the surrounding village and the desolate semi-desert setting also lend an air of desperation and the potential of evil. It's almost uncomfortable to read at times (in a good way), especially when the hyenas and other animals start surrounding the village and howling.

Merrin is a fully realized character who struggles with himself every day, trying desperately to find a purpose in his life, since he feels God has abandoned him. Helena is a good foil for him, as she's been through horrible times in the war just like him, yet emerged with a completely different mindset. She's strong and believable, and it's also nice to see that Wisher and the producers didn't try to create a forced romantic attraction with them. Supporting characters are strong, as well, particularly the steadfast Ambrose and little Fassi.

Fassi's possession is handled well. At first, it truly does look like maybe he's just physically ill, but Wisher steadily progresses the plot until it's clear that something horrible is going on within the boy. The demon's ability to see within the hearts of the humans around him is chilling, and is very reminiscent of the original film in that regard. However, it must be noted that the ending is a bit of a letdown. It's a little unclear exactly why injecting Helena with an overdose of adrenaline would make the demon go away. The demon had already brought her back to life, so why would killing her again make it leave? All things being considered, though, that's a minor point that could be easily fixed. The epilogue showing the shadowy Merrin walking up to the house in Georgetown from the original movie is a perfect endcap.

The recent re-release of the original film grossed $40 million in the U.S., while never playing on more than 1200 screens, and early indicators are that it has performed well overseas as well. It's clear that audiences still like classy horror/thriller films and that the "Exorcist" name still has value. This script is a worthy successor to the original, and we should get involved.