Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist (2005)
Father Merrin takes a sabbatical from the Church to devote himself to history and archaeology as he struggles with his shattered faith.
Details
Budget
$30,000,000
Rating
5/10 (378 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Morgan Creek Entertainment
About Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist
Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist is a horror film centered on Father Merrin, who is struggling with his faith. He has taken a break from the Church to focus on history and archaeology. The movie explores themes of religion and the supernatural, delving into topics like possession, exorcism, and the devil.
The narrative contains elements such as ancient evil and demonic possession, set against the backdrop of an archaeological dig in East Africa. The story includes a crisis of faith for its main character, a Catholic priest, as he confronts these supernatural forces. It also touches on historical aspects, including references to the Byzantine Empire and the Vatican.
While the film is a prequel, it also functions as a remake, drawing on keywords like 'based on novel or book' and 'prequel' to establish its connection to the broader Exorcist franchise. The film's overall tone fits within the religious horror subgenre.
Why you might be searching for Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist
People search for this movie to understand the backstory of Father Merrin before the events of The Exorcist, particularly how he became involved with demonic possession and his personal struggles with faith. Its focus on an archaeological dig and themes like ancient evil are also points of interest.
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You can stream *Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist* on [Prime Video](https://www.primevideo.com/region/na/detail/Dominion-Prequel-To-The-Exorcist/0LPGS3KFD7CQYXT5IIBCZ05YD3) and [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/70034487). It is also available on [Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/dominion-prequel-to-the-exorcist/umc.cmc.5uv10ja1er2qjhhuraa5vuvhb).
*Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist* is not based on a true story. It is the fifth installment in *The Exorcist* series and serves as an alternative prequel to the original 1973 film, with its story derived from a book.
In the end of *Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist*, Father Merrin performs an exorcism on the possessed boy, Cheche, successfully expelling the demon. The demon had mocked Merrin by offering him a chance to change his past trauma from WWII, but Merrin resisted the temptation. After the exorcism, life in the village returns to normal, and Merrin, having regained his faith, leaves for Rome, but an elder warns him the demon will pursue him.
*Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist* received mixed reviews, but many found it to be an improvement over its counterpart, *Exorcist: The Beginning*. Critics like Roger Ebert praised it for taking evil seriously, while others noted its psychological tension and intellectual approach to horror.