Halloween may be behind us, but this doesn’t mean we have to stop watching horror movies and bury all our favorite thrills and chills under the house. In fact, now is as good a time as any to take a little trip down memory lane and explore some all-time great exorcism movies, especially with PREY FOR THE DEVIL now showing in AMC Theatres nationwide.
If you are a fan of this sub-genre of horror and want to revisit your favorites from yesterday and today, or you finally built up the courage to give them a watch, stick around, because we’re about to break down a handful of must-watch exorcism movies you can watch on AMC Theatres On Demand. But, before we go diving through terrifying films like THE EXORCIST, THE CONJURING, and more, let’s first talk a little bit about PREY FOR THE DEVIL.
Prey For The Devil
PREY FOR THE DEVIL is set in a world in which the Catholic Church has been forced to reopen its exorcism schools in order to combat the rise in demonic possession across the world. Although the art is traditionally only taught to priests, an exception is made for Sister Ann (Jacqueline Byers), a young yet powerful nun who is more than equipped to go to battle with the devil’s forces. Directed by Daniel Stamm, the man behind THE LAST EXORCISM, 13 SINS, and various horror TV shows, this is one you don’t want to miss.
The Exorcist
Definitely in the conversation for the scariest movie of all time, William Friedkin’s THE EXORCIST is still just as terrifying nearly 50 years after it initially frightened audiences back in December 1973. This horror classic tells the story of Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), a young girl who becomes possessed by a demonic presence, much to the surprise and confusion of her mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn). Left with no other options, the woman calls upon a priest specializing in exorcisms to drive the evil force out of her home and save her young daughter from eternal damnation.
The priest, Dr. Damien Karras (Jason Miller), is capable of warding off evil spirits, but meets his match with a being claiming to be the devil himself.
The Conjuring
THE CONJURING universe has become one of the most prolific and successful franchises over the course of the past decade, but it had to start somewhere. Released in July 2013, James Wan’s modern supernatural horror classic introduced audiences around the world to paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) as they embarked upon their first on-screen quest to rid a family of an evil being.
In the movie, the couple are called upon by a family in Rhode Island whose new home is under attack by a malevolent spirit who has already killed their dog and caused harm to one of their daughters. Upon searching the house and investigating the happenings, the Warrens go to battle with the dangerous being, in hopes of freeing the family from its sinister grasp.
The Exorcism Of Emily Rose
Before expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe with DOCTOR STRANGE or bringing terror back to AMC Theatres with THE BLACK PHONE, Scott Derrickson was cutting his teeth with horror movies like 2005’s THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE. The movie focuses on attorney Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) as she defends Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson) against charges of negligent homicide after an exorcism resulted in the death of Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter).
THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE is told through the present-day narrative set in a courtroom during the negligent homicide proceedings as well as flashbacks showing Emily’s battle with demonic forces, and the exorcism that resulted in her death and charges being filed against Father Moore.
The Rite
Released in early 2011, Mikael Håfström’s supernatural horror film, THE RITE, centers on a young seminary graduate named Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue) whose plan to renounce his vows after completing his college degree to get a free education ends up costing him dearly. At the behest of his superior, Michael agrees to travel to the Vatican and attend an exorcism class to make things right before he leaves the cloth behind.
Upon attending the classes, Michael comes in contact with an exorcist named Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins), which kicks off a grueling and terrifying battle between the forces of good and evil in which the devil and his minions won’t back down.
The Haunting In Connecticut
Peter Cornwell’s 2009 horror film, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, centers on the Campbell family as they become haunted by supernatural forces in their new home, which was a funeral home at one point in time.
Matt (Kyle Gallner), the Campbells’ son whose cancer treatment led to them moving into the house, begins to experience increasingly more intense encounters with the evil forces before a priest is finally brought in to better figure out the situation. Once inside the home, Reverend Nicholas Popescu (Elias Koteas) begins to uncover the reason behind the strange and terrifying happenings.
If you are looking for a fun and frightening experience at your local AMC theatre, check out PREY FOR THE DEVIL on the big screen right now.
