The Exorcist Episodes 8-10 Reviews: Who Will Save Your Soul? (Season Finale)

I'm finally getting around to reviewing the last few episodes of Fox's "The Exorcist" (which originally aired in December). The show got good ratings from Rotten Tomatoes (78 from critics and 93 from audiences) and MetaCritic (62 from critics and 8/10 from audiences). It never seemed to gain a substantial audience for some reason (which is a shame since the back half of the season has some great moments).

A quick refresher: Father Ortega and the maverick Father Keane are called in to help exorcise a demon from Casey Rance. Her family (mother Angela, father Henry and older sister Katherine) are obviously concerned. When we last saw her, Casey was hidden away in a convent while the priests and Mother Bernadette tried to free her from the demon. Is Casey a goner?

Meanwhile the group intent on killing the visiting pope finalizes their plans. They include Maria Walters, Simon and some other baddies. Father Bennett gets hip to their plan and ends up with a bag over his head. I thought he was definitely a goner... but nope, he's still kickin'.

In one of the big shockers of the series it turns out Angela Rance is in fact Regan McNeal (the little girl from the original movie). She has no memory of her past. Her estranged mother Chris reenters her life. Chris was an actress and tried to cash in on Reagan's trauma by doing the book and talk show circuit.

Just when it looks like Casey is going to die, Angela sacrifices herself in her daughter's place. Yes, the demon (who at times been called The Salesman, Captain Howdy or Pazuzu) moves from Casey to her mother. Both the audience and the Rance family learn that at the same time (which makes for a great scene). Angela is having a normal conversation with her mother and then out of nowhere twists her head around and shoves her down the stairs. Ouch! That was freaky. Angela is trapped inside her head and tormented by Pazuzu.

In present time/space DemonAngela is holding the Rance family hostage. Someone has to hurt themselves with a hammer so they can get close to the Pope to be healed. After lots of screaming and crying, Katherine bashes her own knee cap in. Ouch again! Father Ortega who was knocked unconscious and is fighting his own demons, finally has it out with Angela.

Across town, the pope's caravan makes it's way down the parade route. There is a high pitched sound and everyone starts bleeding from their noses. Simon approaches the PopeMobile. Luckily a very weak Father Keane is right behind him and slits his throat with a crucifix from a rosary. The pope watches in horror. All is well... at least for now. Marcus and Tomas have a little chat. Are there more exorcisms in their future? Yep.

Fast forward. We see the Rance sisters walking outside (Katherine has a cane). Henry greets them. Is Angela dead? Nope. She's there in a wheelchair. Is it really over? I seriously thought the demon would move on to someone else. But have no fear. DemonMaria is around so who knows what she'll do next.

Grade: 4 1/4 Monsters (out of 5). An enjoyable adaptation of the original movie, "The Exorcist" series has some shocking twists and genuine scares. The double iris thing is really freaky.

It also has some top notch acting with Geena Davis, Ben Daniels and Alfonso Herrara (ie Hot Priest) leading the cast. The show's pacing is a bit slow at times but probably necessary to stretch it out for 10 episodes.

The television series also had some very big shoes to fill. The 1973 movie "The Exorcist" is at the top of many people's all time best horror movies... myself included. See my list here: Top 10 Horror Movies Of All Times

I have not heard that "The Exorcist" has been renewed for a season 2 so I assume this is the end of the line. I'm not sure what else they could do anything... unless they priests go to help another family and follow an entirely different story line.