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Trailer lands for 'The Exorcist: Martyrs' as Mike Flanagan tackles scepticism head-on

Scarlett Johansson stars as an NYPD detective confronting the demon Pazuzu in the franchise's seventh film

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources6 outlets
The trailer for 'The Exorcist: Martyrs', the seventh film in the iconic horror franchise, has been released today. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the film stars Scarlett Johansson as NYPD detective Julie Miller, who investigates a series of murders linked to the demonic entity from the 1973 original. The trailer marks a critical marketing moment for a project that Flanagan acknowledges will be met with scepticism.

The trailer for 'The Exorcist: Martyrs' arrived today, offering the first look at Mike Flanagan's addition to the decades-old franchise. The film follows Detective Julie Miller (Johansson) as she probes murders connected to her past and the demon Pazuzu, the entity that possessed Regan MacNeil in the 1973 original. The cast also includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Leguizamo and Laurence Fishburne.

Flanagan, known for horror series such as 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'Midnight Mass', said the trailer was a critical opportunity to show audiences what the film actually is. "Especially for a project like this, that is going to be met immediately upon announcement with scepticism and questions; being able to kind of show people the first real look at what the movie is, is a critical moment for our marketing," he said. "Otherwise it's just a series of unanswerable questions."

The director, 48, from Salem, Massachusetts, acknowledged his own aversion to trailers. "I try so hard to go into every movie knowing as little about it as I possibly can, which works directly counter to what's required to market a movie and get it in front of an audience, so I'm, I'm not the person to ask," he said.

The 1973 'The Exorcist' was the first horror film to earn a best picture Oscar nomination. Five sequels, novels, a TV series and a radio serial have followed in the decades since.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The 'Exorcist' franchise is a landmark in horror cinema, and this seventh entry marks a creative shift under Mike Flanagan, a critically acclaimed horror director, raising expectations for a franchise that has seen mixed reception in recent years.
  • The trailer's reception will be a key indicator of audience appetite for another instalment of a classic horror property, especially one facing initial scepticism.
  • Flanagan's comments highlight the tension between preserving mystery for audiences and the marketing machine required to sell a major studio film.

Background

'The Exorcist' (1973) revolutionised horror and became a cultural phenomenon. The franchise has expanded through sequels, prequels, and a television series, with varying degrees of success. Mike Flanagan emerged as a leading horror director through Netflix series such as 'The Haunting of Hill House', earning a reputation for character-driven, atmospheric storytelling. 'The Exorcist: Martyrs' is his first theatrical feature for the franchise, and the first to reunite him with major stars like Johansson and Fishburne.

Key Perspectives

Mike Flanagan (writer/director): Sees the trailer as essential to overcoming scepticism and showing the film's true nature. He paradoxically avoids trailers himself to preserve the cinematic experience. Franchise Fans: Likely divided between excitement for Flanagan's involvement and wariness of yet another sequel to a beloved classic. Sceptics: May question the need for another 'Exorcist' film, especially given the uneven quality of recent entries. The trailer's success in convincing them will be crucial.

What to Watch

  • Social media and box office tracking for initial buzz after the trailer's release.
  • The film's release date and whether it will face competition from other horror titles.
  • Any early critical reactions or festival screenings that may shape audience expectations.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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