MovieChat Forums > Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005) Discussion > Dominion: a Moderate Defense of the Film

Dominion: a Moderate Defense of the Film

posted 11 years ago by bastasch8647
10 replies | jump to latest

Dominion is the slower film, but it still beats out Beginning. Why? Because its theme(s) are more serious and its horror(s) more nuanced. Just contrast the DVD cover art. Beginning features a "scary" demonic face. Dominion features Merrin reverently kissing his Rosary. The respective covers eloquently express the difference between the two films.

Dominion has none of the sexual crudity of Beginning (Scorupco's "impossible" vaginal bleeding, the British alcoholic's nasty remarks, no "I'm gonna f--k your juicy ass"), no incredibly huge battlefield of upside-down crucifixion victims, no dreamscape of mutilated bodies, no "erotic" wrestling match between Skarsgaard and Scorupco ... etc. Also lacking is Beginning's puerile, Hollywoodesque theory that "Satan fell from heaven on this spot!" gibberish.

Dominion's theme is Merrin's re-conversion to Catholicism/priesthood. In Beginning this theme is present, but overshadowed by the gore and sfx. When Merrin kisses his Rosary in Dominion, the film delivers its thematic core with no frills. Its exorcism - which according to Blatty, "damn near killed" Merrin - is stressful but not lethal. However, contrasted to the Skarsgaard-Scorupco grope, Dominion's exorcism scene is pure art.

Nuggets do not abound, but a few are at least present, as when Fr Francis angrily chides Merrin for condemning in others a hope he himself once gave his life to; when Francis expresses horror at the human sacrifice evidence found in the temple's "satanic" understructure, and Merrin caustically says, "Reminds you of the Holy Inquisition"; when Merrin and the Nazi-tortured nurse are discussing evil, and Merrin confesses: "I chose good. Evil happened" and the nurse replies in a strikingly Blattian line: "Sometimes I think the best view of God is from Hell." Good stuff. Not enough of it, but still good stuff.

Neither film, of course, was classic cinema. It's just that for me, Dominion is the lesser of two evils, and contains a few dramatic and theological nuggets to boot.

[–] SGuiliano1064972 11 years ago

I agree!

"SG"

[–] bastasch8647 11 years ago

Nice hearing from you - sorry for the late reply :)

[–] Doc110894 10 years ago

Interesting thoughts.

[–] bastasch8647 10 years ago

Thank you ... I can't really strongly recommend this film, but for those who like the Merrin character and might enjoy a new iteration on the possession/demon themes, I would cautiously suggest they watch it..while drinking strong coffee.

:)

[–] ChillerPop 8 years ago

The Beginning was complete trash. It's the true shame of the 'franchise' - not Heretic. I saw it in the theater and when Scorupco began doing her best Linda Blair, the audience erupted in laughter. The final sequence could have been directed by John Waters - that would have at least had some redemptive value.

Dominion is worthy of the bigger ideas around the original film, E3 and the novel.

[–] bastasch8647 8 years ago

Yes, they tried way too hard to make Scorupco resemble Blair, even down to the evil eyes, facial scarring, and demonic imitation of deceased personalities (the dead British scumbag's voice comes out of Scorupco's mouth, in words to the effect of, "Stick it up huh joocee ass!")...

[–] TheSolarSailor 8 years ago

Dominion is more of a drama than a horror film. I can see why the studio panicked and wanted to fix it. Sadly, they took the wrong idea as to how to fix it by letting Harlin rewrite it entirely. To work, Dominion needed to be scarier. Not necessarily more gore and gross makeup, but it needed to better convey the presence of evil. I did alright in that regard, but it never seemed to build to nearly as much as you think it is going to.

As you said, though, the real story Schrader wanted to tell was that of Merrin's redemption, and in that regard, it succeeded.

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I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

[–] bastasch8647 8 years ago

To work, Dominion needed to be scarier. Not necessarily more gore and gross makeup, but it needed to better convey the presence of evil

Totally agreed - not scary enough by far. Of course, it couldn't really compete with the Friedkin film, but still... plus, there was too much empty space between scares, and sadly this applies even to the exorcism when Merrin leaves Rachel alone in the church with the demon, rushes back to the compound, dons his clerical garb, rushes back to the church... just terrible pacing. The story cried out for the exorcism to occur the first time Merrin enters the church and finds Rachel there. There should have been a brief, earlier scene of Merrin "re-converting", donning his priest clothing, then going to the church and immediately performing the exorcism. Splitting the scene is just inexcusably murderous to the pacing.

[–] TheSolarSailor 8 years ago

It's too bad that Morgan Creek didn't try to simply fix Schrader's version. Some editing and a bit of reshooting could easily have fixed the pacing issue you are talking about regarding the exorcism. Some moodier music and sound effects of evil during some scenes could have helped build the suspense/horror as well. It wouldn't have hurt to add a few strange incidents in addition to just hyenas being eaten by cows. They should have used real hyenas and had their presence more prominent. I also would have made CheChe a bit more scary looking as opposed to looking like an alien from Star Trek when he was possessed. It was a bad choice for makeup. It would have been a lot better for the studio to just fix what they had. The backbone of a good film was already shot and ready!

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I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

[–] bastasch8647 8 years ago

Good points...they would have saved money by fixing Schrader's version, with the additions you suggested. It would have been a very worthy film with those changes...