Paul Schraders Excorcist Trailer

Thanks to a reader by the name of Justin we have the trailer for Paul Schraders Excorcist. Ever wondered what a movie would be like with a different director? This is one remake that came really quick and gives you that chance. In 1944. Lankester Merrin, a parish priest in Holland, is forced by retreating Nazi soldiers to pass life-and-death judgement on his parishioners. This action destroys his faith, breaks his spirit.  In 1947 Merrin, now an archeologist, makes a startling discovery in the Turkana district of northwest British East Africa (Kenya). An ancient Byzantine church has been found buried and in pristine condition. It was built, then buried.

This discovery brings the attention of the archdiocese in Nairobi who, through Major Granville, assigns young Father Francis go to Derati in Turkana and watch over Merrin's work. In Derati Francis meets Rachel Lesno, a camp survivor who runs the medical clinic and Emewki, the hotel owner. Francis sets about setting up a church school. At the dig site Francis visits Merrin and Chuma, his foreman. After Rachel arrives to administer to a stricken worker, Cheche, a crippled local boy about 15 appears, looking for water. Merrin attempts to aid him but is confront by an angry pack of hyenasis found injured in the village and brings him to Rachel at the clinic.

After a disturbing dream, Merrin shows Francis the now uncovered church. The interior is guarded by giant statues who appear to be holding something down. The walls are covered by Byzantine mosaics featuring the War in Heaven, Archangels Michael and Lucifer. Beneath the church, Merrin, Francis and Chuma discover an ancient primitive crypt which had been used for Satanic worship and sacrifice. Merrin surmises that the church was built atop the crypt to hold the evil in and then itself buried.

Cheche is oddly affected when the crypt is opened. Merrin and Rachel set out to help Cheche's condition, brining in a doctor from Nairobi to reset his leg. Cheche's condition improves radically and implausibly. He's getting better too fast. At the same time everything else is getting worse. Sebituana, the local chief, is convinced the church as unleashed an evil demon.....

The film was completely reshot, with Renny Harlin directing and released as "Exorcist: The Beginning" (2004).

Download the trailer here