THE EXORCISM OF MOLLY HARTLEY

US, 2015, 96 minutes, Colour.
Devon Sawa, Sarah Lind, Gina Holden, Peter Mc Neill.
Directed by Steven R. Monroe.


Since 1973 and the surprise appearance and box office success of The Exorcist, there has been a tradition of exorcist and possession films, sequels and prequels to the original, Italian spoofs, and other franchises including The Omen series.

There seems to have been a strong renewal of interest around 2010, not only Catholic stories of possession but also Protestant stories of exorcisms. There were popular versions like The Last Exorcism and The Devil Within. Better examples of exorcism films have been The Exorcism of Emily Rose and the German story on which it was based, Requiem. Another interesting example was The Rite with Anthony Hopkins, based on a true American story, and highlighting the course for exorcists which was established in Rome.

This film begins almost like a parody of The Exorcist, something like the spoof, Repossessed. However, despite the exaggerations of the opening, the film then settles into something of an ultra-serious tone.

The plot is basic, Molly Hartley who had appeared in the previous film, The Haunting of Molly Hartley, is now possessed. Devon Sawa appears as Father Barrow, participating in an exorcism but most imprudently believing the words of the possessed and freeing her with the result that she and the other priest die. The authorities are not impressed and Father Barrow is removed from active ministry and consigned to care in a Catholic institution. Molly Hartley is there. Devon Sawa is not the most credible of priests.

The retiring chaplain encourages Father Barrow to exorcise Molly and this is supported by the head nurse. There is an exorcism and Molly is healed – but, the chaplain is unmasked as participating in satanic rituals, for a new apocalypse, the rise of Leviathan, with other pseudo—biblical overtones.

One of the problems is that, while the story is Catholic, the vestments are weird, the Protestant version of The Lord’s Prayer is recited, the rituals in the book as well as the actions are products of the screenwriter’s mind rather than of any traditions. With the exorcism, there is acknowledgement of a background of Beelzebub, theLord of the flies – and, while Molly is healed, there is yet another of those token symbols for the audience to realise that everything may not be over yet…

1. The popularity of The Exorcist films? From the 1970s and the original The Exorcist? The tradition?

2. Renewed audience interest in the 21st century? The nature of the devil, of evil, Christian belief or not, the possibility of diabolical possession, the reasons? Satanic rituals and beliefs?

3. The use of Catholic traditions, but not carefully researched: strange coloured vestments, the Protestant Lord’s Prayer, the making up of ritual texts, the nature of the rituals – coming more from the screenwriter than from authenticity?

4. The situation, the previous film about Molly Hartley? The reasons for her possession?

5. Father Barrow, performing rituals, his explanation of his training, his beliefs? His trust in the possessed woman, leading to her freeing herself and the deaths? His being dismissed, losing his priestly faculties, going to the Catholic institution, the same place as Molly?

6. The film’s image of priests, focusing on their ministry of exorcism rather than anything else, not seeing them in the broader context of church? The death of the exorcist? Father Barrow, young, his training, his ministry? The chaplain at the institution, benign, welcoming, retiring? The screenwriter’s assumption that priests have all the esoteric knowledge about esoteric and exotic books, symbols and rituals?

7. The supervisor, her role in the institution, her concern about the patients? With Father Barrow? Concern about Molly? The other patients, the wardsmen, the nurses?

8. Father Barrow, his ecclesiastical situation, supported by the chaplain, convinced to go ahead with the exorcism? Vestments, ritual?

9. Molly, the conventions from The Exorcist, her look, her face, words and voice, vomit, levitation, loosening her thongs, the letters on
her forehead? Mouthing abuse? The flies coming out, her being saved?

10. The ritual vessel, the flies coming out of her mouth, Father Barrow collecting them, the vessel, the water, the container?

11. Father Barrow going to chaplain, the vessel put in the safe? Father Barrow seeing the book, the satanic rituals, the meaning of the letters and symbols?

12. The chaplain, beginning to perform the satanic ritual, the guards and mean under his control, the director of the Institute, concealing the knife, producing it and killing the guard? Father Barrow, the gun? The preparation, the sacrificing of Molly, the talk about the apocalypse and leviathan?

13. The police, the shooting, killing the priest, the rescue?

14. The flies, the one escaping – Molly on the bus, the fly entering her ear – the token device at the end of horror films and leaving the issues open?