Is The Exorcist: Martyrs a Sequel to The Exorcist III? Mike Flanagan Reveals All
The Exorcist: Martyrs director Mike Flanagan joins IGN to break down the horror sequel's new trailer and explain how it builds on the foundation of The Exorcist III.
Mike Flanagan, the director of The Exorcist: Martyrs, recently sat down with IGN's Tom Jorgensen to discuss the new trailer and the film's connection to the iconic Exorcist franchise. Flanagan explained that he chose to open the trailer with Scarlett Johansson descending the stairs of a crime scene because of the powerful association it has with the original film and its iconic poster.
He also revealed that The Exorcist III was a significant influence on the new movie, praising it as a "marvelous film" that successfully combined elements of a serial killer investigative thriller and a demonic possession story.
Flanagan emphasized that while The Exorcist: Martyrs is primarily designed to be a standalone story, fans of The Exorcist III will find additional references and Easter eggs throughout the film, tying it back to the earlier sequel and the original Exorcist film. The trailer prominently features Scarlett's character tracking a serial killer named Rivera, who leaves crime scenes marked by religious symbols.
This motif of evil infiltrating and threatening the safety of families is central to the possession genre, with Flanagan noting that it taps into a deep-seated fear of the unknown and the disruption of innocence.
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