It was only on a recent rewatch that I noticed Samuel L. Jackson’s tiny cameo inThe Exorcist 3. While the originalExorcistis clearly the better movie - and one of the best horror films of all time, period - I’ve always preferred watching the third movie.
Exorcist 3has one of the best jump scares everconceived, amazing performances by George C. Scott and Brad Dourif, and a genuinely eerie, unsettling atmosphere. It was famously compromised by the studio though, who insisted that writer and director William Peter Blatty reshoot the sequel to include an overblown exorcism finale.
These reshoots also added back Jason Miller from the first entry inthe Exorcistmovie franchise, reprising his role as Father Karras. The third film was a solid hit (grossing $39 million, according toBox Office Mojo), but its reputation has only grown in the years since.
Not only isExorcist 3recognised as the best sequel in the series, but it’s considered one of the 1990s' most underrated horror films. The film is also filled with unusual cameos, including Fabio, Larry King and Patrick Ewing.
Samuel L. Jackson Appeared In The Exorcist 3
Jackson was still a few years out from Pulp Fiction
Most of these cameos take place inside a dream that Scott’s protagonist, Lieutenant Kinderman, is having.Kinderman dreams he is wandering a version of purgatory, where angels comfort the souls of the recently deceased, including the murder victims ofthe Gemini Killer.
I usually found this dream sequence kind of silly on previous viewings ofThe Exorcist 3, but this time it worked for me. It’s over the top for sure, but there’s an unsettling undercurrent to it.This viewing was also the first time I spotted Samuel L. Jackson, credited as “Dream Blind Man.”
Samuel L. Jackson only has one line inThe Exorcist 3, which sounds weird because he was dubbed by another actor.
Kinderman spots Jackson’s character listening to a radio, as another character tries to talk to the living.Jackson’s irritated blind man responds to her efforts with, “The living are deaf!“This is his sole line inThe Exorcist 3, and it sounds weird because instead of hearing Jackson’s iconic voice, he was dubbed by another actor.
Samuel L. Jackson Has Only Appeared In A Few Horror Movies In His Career
Deep Blue Sea is Jackson’s horror apex
Jackson has appeared in just about every genre imaginable, but for such a prolific actor, he hasn’t appeared in many horror films. Prior to The Exorcist 3, he was in cult horror movieDef by Temptation, and in the years that followed, starred in genre efforts likeSnakes on a Planeand Stephen King adaptations1408andCell.
Naturally,Jackson’s shock death inDeep Blue Seais his standout moment in the genre, where his character is brutally devoured by sharks in the middle of a rousing monologue. Compared to that, his scene inThe Exorcist 3is mighty disappointing.
Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep,Midnight Mass) is set to direct the nextExorcistmovie.
His appearance is so fleeting, it’s little wonder I never noticed Jackson before, and the dubbed voice sounds nothing like him. Jackson was also working constantly whenExorcist 3was released, also appearing inGoodfellasandMo' Better Bluesthat same year, but he was still a few years out from his career-changing role inPulp Fiction.
The Exorcist III
Cast
The Exorcist III is a supernatural horror film written and directed by William Peter Blatty. Set over a decade after the events of the original Exorcist film, The Exorcist III Follows Lieutenant Kinderman as he investigates a murder that shares similarities to a killer who was executed fifteen years earlier - and a patient at a local psychiatric ward claims to be that same man.
The Exorcist
“The Exorcist” is a horror franchise that began with the iconic 1973 film, widely regarded as one of the scariest movies ever made. The franchise revolves around themes of demonic possession and exorcism, typically focusing on the battle between priests and evil spirits. Known for its terrifying atmosphere, psychological depth, and religious themes, “The Exorcist” has expanded into multiple films, a TV series, novels, and more, leaving a lasting impact on the horror genre.
