So, anyway....

While Frankenstein's grandson was creating chaos among various buxom co-eds, the SCIC-FI network was filling space with a very forgettable WES CRAVEN PRESENTS MIND RIPPER (1995). Unfortunately, this looks like something Wes became attached to in order to get his son Jonathan's script actually filmed. The senior Craven doesn't seem to have had anything to do with this film, which was also released as THE OUTPOST. The only saving factor here is Lance Henriksen, doing his usual professional best but with little to actually do, except get tossed around by the 'monster' he created.

I don't think I'm giving anything away when I tell you that this has one of those all too common 'horror movie' cliche endings where you just know that the folks involved (at least the director and possibly the screen writer) are trying to set up a sequel.
This is actually kind of funny if you happen to know that the working title for this film was THE HILLS HAVE EYES 3, a sequel to films which the elder Craven both directed and wrote.

You'd think that by around noon, I'd have been tired of this type of thing, but then you don't know me very well. I love this stuff and could watch (and have to be honest) hour after hour of bad movies, especially bad horror/sf/slasher movies. To be honest, there is not much, save movies on Lifetime that I can't sit through.

Low and behold, SCI-FI decided to screen THE EXOCIST 2: THE HERETIC(1977). This sequel was both critically bashed and a box-office bomb. Surprisingly, considering how much I loved the first film I have never actually seen the sequel. On the other hand, I do have to admit that I actually paid to see THE EXORCIST III in the theatre. There at least we get some nice scenery chewing by George C. Scott and discover that Father Karras (Jason Miller, reprising his role) may NOT have died after all. To be honest, I actually enjoyed that film, but can certainly see how fans of the first would be pretty ticked off.

THE HERETIC brings back Linda Blair (she of the headturning and green pea vomiting first film) as Regan MacNeil. Not seen is her mother, played in the original by Ellen Burstyn, but we do get Kitty Winn (as Regan's nanny, Sharon Spencer) and Max von Sydow (in flashbacks, as Father Merrin), both from the first film. Here Regan is being treated by Louise Fletcher, who seems to be only slightly more caring than Nurse Ratched (whom she portrayed, marvelously in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST the previous year).