William Peter Blatty the author of The Exorcist, wrote and directed this spiritual sequel, now defined as part of the faith trilogy formed by The Exorcist, The Ninth Configuration, and The Exorcist III.

It’s a fascinating film, in parts funny, in parts heartbreaking, and in parts horrifying. In a remote part of the Pacific Northwest stands a castle (not really, it was shot in Budapest), it has been given over by the military as an asylum for servicemen who have broken under the trials of combat, and other traumatic situations.

A new psychiatrist has arrived, Kane (Stacy Keach) at the castle, and he is surrounded by a number of troubled souls like Reno (Jason Miller), Bennish (Robert Loggia), and Nammack (Moses Gunn). Kane is especially intrigued by Cutshaw (Scott Wilson), an astronaut who had a breakdown on the launchpad and had to be pulled from the capsule just before launch.

Cutshaw is troubled by the fact that there is no evidence for a god, there seems to be no goodness to triumph over all the evil that seems to tower over everything. Kane is hoping to help him find that goodness. With the help of the asylum staff, Col. Fell (Ed Flanders), Sgt. Krebs (Tom Atkins) and Maj. Groper (Neville Brand), Kane suggests allowing each of the patients to indulge in their delusions.

These delusions lead to some farcical moments, as well as some stunning imagery, (the iconic crucifixion on the moon is a stunning image) only heightened by the incredible location the film was shot in.

But as the second half of the film kicks in there’s a tonal shift as truths come out, and Cutshaw and Kane find themselves connected in a series of events that will have an effect on them both. There are also a number of connections between Fell and Kane that come to the surface, and each moment is jarring and thought-provoking, not only as the film deals with the ideas of faith but also those of god, goodness and more.

I can see how this film could be incredibly divisive amongst viewers, it expects a lot of its audience and throws out some pretty weighty ideas.

Even though the timeline doesn’t really work, Cutshaw, the astronaut, is supposed to be the same astronaut from The Exorcist who is told that ‘he’ll die up there’ by Regan. Course, it doesn’t help that Jason Miller (he’s a fantastic actor) shows up in both films as different characters, or perhaps that can raise all manner of different questions.

For me, Keach was always Mike Hammer, I’d never really sought him out in other roles, but his performance in this one is exemplary, it’s quiet, and restrained, but amps itself up as Kane begins to process everything, and confront his own secrets.

I loved the ending, it’s a heavy, thought-provoking road to get there, but there is hope, redemption, goodness, and more in the end.