Me, a thriller? And in *The Exorcist* series, no less!

The truth is, I’m not much of a thriller fan, since ... I often fall for jump scares (I admit it, haha), but the trailer caught my attention, and I’ll definitely watch it.

The Exorcist: Martyrs is one of those films that has already managed to spark my curiosity, mainly because it attempts to return to one of the most recognizable names in the history of horror cinema without necessarily following the beaten path. The story takes us to New York and follows police detective Julie Miller, played by Scarlett Johansson. Thirteen years earlier, Miller had put an end to the reign of satanic serial killer Father Sunday, but a new series of ritualistic murders will force her to revisit a case she believed she had left behind for good. When her name appears written in the blood of a young boy inside a church crypt, the investigation takes a turn that goes beyond the boundaries of an ordinary crime thriller. With the help of a former prison chaplain, who knows the killer’s final confession, and a young colleague, Julie will come face to face with a dark connection between notorious killers and something that seems to go beyond human understanding.

Of course, the appeal goes beyond the plot, as the cast is particularly strong. Alongside Johansson, we have Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Leguizamo, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne, with Sasha Calle, Jacobi Jupe, Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel, and Rahul Kohli also appearing in the film. For me, Johansson’s presence alone is a good reason to watch it, as I want to see how she handles a role that combines a police investigation, psychological weight, and supernatural horror. At the same time, Leguizamo’s presence as Father Sunday gives the impression that the main antagonist will not simply be another character used to deliver a few chills, but rather a piece of a much larger and considerably darker story.

Mike Flanagan is directing, a filmmaker who has repeatedly demonstrated that he knows the genre inside out, both through films such as Oculus, Hush, Gerald's Game, and Doctor Sleep, and through series such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. In fact, Doctor Sleep, the cinematic sequel to The Shining, is a characteristic example of his ability to approach an already established universe, respecting its legacy while simultaneously trying to give it an identity of its own. This time, however, the challenge is different, as he is taking on one of the most iconic names in the genre, with expectations and demands inevitably running high.

So, I wonder how well he will manage to rise to the scale of this production. I don’t question his experience with horror, but The Exorcist is a name that carries enormous cinematic history and is constantly compared to a film that changed the way audiences perceive supernatural horror. William Friedkin’s original 1973 film did not rely exclusively on its terrifying imagery, but also on religious doubt, human desperation, and the feeling that evil can invade even the safest of places. That is precisely Flanagan’s challenge: to create something genuinely frightening without relying solely on sudden sound effects and predictable jump scares. And, between you and me, if he manages to make me forget that I’m waiting for something to leap out of the darkness, he will have already earned a point in my book.

There is also an important detail regarding the story’s origins. The Exorcist: Martyrs is not presented as an adaptation of a new novel, nor as a direct continuation of the original story written by William Peter Blatty. It is a new story set within The Exorcist universe, with Flanagan writing the screenplay based on characters created by Blatty. At the same time, it is not a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, but follows its own narrative direction. I find this interesting because it gives the director room to move more freely, without necessarily having to continue a story that has already divided audiences.

For now, the trailer, the cast, and Flanagan’s involvement are the main reasons I’m looking forward to watching the film. I don’t yet know whether The Exorcist: Martyrs will manage to stand alongside the franchise’s finest moments, but its shift towards a crime mystery involving ritualistic murders, religious elements, and supernatural implications strikes me as an interesting choice. The film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on March 12, 2027. Until then, I’ll be waiting to see whether Flanagan has found a genuinely new way to confront us with horror or whether he will settle for familiar formulas. One thing is certain: I’ll be there to find out. With one eye on the screen and the other ready to shut at the first jump scare! (A pillow always helps, although bringing one to the cinema might be a little difficult!)