DOMINION: PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST
God’s dominion over Satan emerges from a disturbing exorcism.
Should You Watch It?
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist is a provocative horror film about spiritual warfare. It clearly presents God as having dominion over Satan and his demons, and Merrin’s compassion for a demon-possessed boy draws him back to faith.
That spiritual clarity comes with serious costs. The film contains disturbing images, excessive violence and gore, a horrific soundtrack, and questionable doctrinal issues. Its Christian and biblical elements appear within a Roman Catholic setting alongside pagan and occult material.
The film has real merit for adults who can engage its ideas without being overwhelmed by its content. For children and young teens, the answer is simple: wait for something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn the desert plains of Africa, an ex-priest turned archeologist encounters Cheche, a mysterious and seriously ill boy found near an excavation of a church buried during the Byzantine rule.
After the boy begins to recover, Father Francis prays over him. The prayer disturbs a demon, and Merrin, Francis, and Dr. Rachel Lesno find themselves facing a spiritual battle centered on the boy and the buried church.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a provocative but uneven film with genuine strengths. The filmmakers do a good job setting up the shots, and the movie gives a strong portrayal of evil and the battle between good and evil.
The film’s spiritual conflict is clear, and its central movement—from Merrin’s compassion for the boy to his return to faith—gives the story purpose. Still, the disturbing imagery, excessive violence and gore, and horrific soundtrack make the experience difficult. The movie is hard to place, but it may appeal to fans of The Exorcist series.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong Christian and biblical worldview in a Roman Catholic setting. It emphasizes standing for Christ, keeping faith in God, encouraging the discouraged, forgiving enemies, asking God for help in reverence, repentance, casting out the Devil, and accepting salvation in Christ. It also makes a clear theological claim: God has ultimate dominion over Satan.
At the same time, the film includes false religious elements. These include worship at pagan temples and statues of idols, animal sacrifices to gods, drinking blood in rituals, occult witchcraft, and the use of patron saints and prayers to dead saints. Some viewers may also find its suggestion that Christianity corrupts societies and its depiction of Communism among a tribe questionable. The story includes revenge, theft, lying, and a prodigal priest who uses violent behavior to solve one problem, though he otherwise acts nonviolently.
The film’s central longing is for a person who has turned away to return to God. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian and biblical worldview in a Roman Catholic setting including standing for Christ to the death, keeping faith in God, encouraging the discouraged, forgiving enemies, asking God for help in reverence, repentance, casting out the Devil, accepting salvation in Christ, positive references to Jesus Christ, God has ultimate dominion over Satan, with some false religious elements including worshipping at pagan temples and statues of idols, pagan elements of animal sacrifices to gods and drinking blood in rituals, some references to occult witchcraft, and Romantic elements state that Christianity corrupts societies, as well as Communism apparent among tribe not wanting to mingle with priests; two or three strong profanities; very strong violence depicting point blank shots in the head, massacres involving guns, people shot with arrows, woman gives birth, and baby born dead with maggot infestation; no sexual content or references other than scene where woman gives birth; upper male nudity in temple basement; and, priest repents and turns to God after going on spiritual sabbatical, prodigal priest uses violent behavior to solve one problem but otherwise uses nonviolent behavior, revenge, theft, lying, and use of patron saints and praying to dead saints may be offensive to some non-Catholics.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents a battle between good and evil. Where do you see Scripture’s confidence that evil will not finally overcome God?
John 1:5 · Colossians 1:13Merrin’s compassion for Cheche helps draw him back to faith. How can compassion become a path toward repentance and renewed obedience?
Luke 15:17–24 · Ephesians 4:32The story includes prayer, baptism, repentance, and salvation. What does Scripture teach about turning to God rather than relying on religious actions alone?
Mark 1:15 · Ephesians 2:8–9The film includes revenge and violent behavior alongside forgiveness and nonviolence. How does Jesus instruct His followers to respond to enemies?
Matthew 5:44 · Romans 12:19–21The Final Word
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist clearly affirms God’s dominion over Satan and gives Merrin a meaningful return to faith. But its disturbing imagery, gore, violence, occult elements, and doctrinal issues make it a film for discerning adults only. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.
