Repossessed is a 1990 American comedy horror film that parodies the 1973 horror film, The Exorcist. It was written and directed by Bob Logan. The film features the original star of The Exorcist, Linda Blair, as well as Leslie Nielsen and Anthony Starke. Many gags parodied events in The Exorcist, such as the green-vomit and head-spinning scenes, and real-life events such as the televangelist scandals of the 1980s.
| Repossessed | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bob Logan |
| Written by | Bob Logan |
| Produced by | Steve Wizan Mario Kassar |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Michael D. Margulies |
| Edited by | Jeff Freeman |
| Music by | Charles Fox |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Seven Arts (through New Line Cinema) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.4 million |
Plot
editIn 1973, Father Jedediah Mayii casts out the devil from the body of young Nancy Aglet. In 1990, Nancy's body is possessed once again, while watching The Ernest and Fanny Miracle Hour, a prosperity gospel broadcast by two hucksters.
After a visit to the hospital, and a visit from Father Luke Brophy, Brophy concludes that Nancy is indeed possessed. Mayii, however, refuses to perform the exorcism, claiming he is too weak, and that both he and Nancy barely survived her previous exorcism. Brophy visits the Supreme Council for Exorcism Granting. Ernest and Fanny of The Ernest and Fanny Miracle Hour are also present. Ernest concludes that an exorcism is warranted, and convinces the council to televise Nancy's exorcism. They agree, believing it will convert millions, so Ernest presents Ernest and Fanny's Exorcism Tonight to the network.
Feeling he may be needed, Mayii visits "Bods-R-Us", a gymnasium, to restore his physical strength. There, Brophy approaches him, informs him of the televised exorcism, and attempts once more to convince Mayii to conduct the exorcism. He refuses again.
After a montage of attempts to free Nancy's body using phone donations, song, and insults, Ernest and Fanny's Exorcism Tonight is announced as having the largest audience in history. Upon hearing this, the devil, in Nancy's body, sets the studio on fire, causing the audience to flee. He reveals to Ernest and Fanny that he used them to get the largest audience, and turns them into a pantomime horse.
Using the camera, the devil tries to claim the souls of the viewing audience, but is stopped by Brophy, who destroys the camera. The devil announces he knows another way to claim their souls, and runs away, heading for a satellite transmitter. He is pursued by religious figures from around the world, who have gathered at Brophy's command. Brophy teases the devil about his earlier defeat by Mayii.
Back in the studio, the devil uses the camera to lure Mayii to him for a rematch. The exorcism, with commentary by "Mean Gene" Okerlund and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, is ineffective until the devil mentions that he hates rock 'n roll. Turning the TV studio into a live concert, the song "Devil with a Blue Dress On" is played to the devil by the various religious figures, including The Pope on guitars. The devil is tormented so much that he is finally driven from Nancy's body for good.
Cast
edit- Linda Blair as Nancy Aglet
- Ned Beatty as Ernest Weller
- Leslie Nielsen as Father Jedediah Mayii
- Anthony Starke as Father Luke Brophy
- Lana Schwab as Fanny Ray Weller
- Thom J. Sharp as Braydon Aglet
- Robert Fuller as Dr. Hackett
- Jesse Ventura as himself
- Gene Okerlund as himself
- Bob Zany as Studio Tour Guest
- Jake Steinfeld as himself
- Wally George as himself
- Jack LaLanne as himself
- Army Archerd as himself
- Gene Greytak as Pope John Paul II
Release
editThe film received a limited theatrical release in the United States by New Line Cinema in September 1990, one month after the release of The Exorcist III.
Home media
editThe film was released on VHS and laserdisc by LIVE Home Video the same year.
In 2003, Artisan Entertainment released the film on DVD. The film was re-released on DVD on April 14, 2009 by Lions Gate Entertainment, in a collection of forgotten films called the "Lost Collection". The corporation again released the film on DVD on January 4, 2011, in a "4-Film Collection" set along with My Best Friend Is a Vampire, Slaughter High and Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!
Reception
editOne review came from Mick Martin and Marsha Porter's DVD and Video Guide, where they called it an "uproarious parody" and praising Nielsen's performance.[2]
The film otherwise received largely negative reviews on the few theatrical releases it had and on its video release. Craig MacInnes of the Toronto Star called the film a "fitful locker room farce" that "delights in trotting out a bevy of naked women with pendulous breasts and happily indulges in vicious sexist remarks that seek immunity in the name of parody." However, he praised Blair's performance and the work of the special effects crew, remarking that the latter "actually made Blair look as scary and repugnant and possessed as she did in [The Exorcist]. If only she had turned her hell’s-belle fury on-the movie’s hapless writers."[3] Leonard Maltin gave the film one-and-a-half stars out of four and remarked that it has "too few gags, too many _targets, and a poor finale" but noted that "Blair and Nielsen are good."[4]
Repossessed is one of the few films to achieve a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, out of seven reviews.[5]
The film won a Razzie Award, the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song, for the song "He's Comin' Back (The Devil!)".
Soundtrack
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Provided by | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Devil with the Blue Dress On" (Performed by Nicholas O'Har) | William Stevenson and Frederick Long | Published by Stone Agate Music (A div. of Jobete Music Co., Inc.) (BMI) | |
| 2. | "Repossessed" (Performed by Cindy Valentine) | Charles Fox and Cindy Valentine | Published by Anabasis Music (BMI) and Another Level Music (BMI) | |
| 3. | "Pump Up the Jam" (Performed by J.T. Welden & R.D. Welden) | Manuela Kamosi and Thomas De Quincey | Courtesy of Colgems-EMI Music, Inc. (ASCAP) on behalf of BMC Publishing and Bogam Publishing | |
| 4. | "Chasin' the Devil" | Doug Livingston (music), Marie Cain (lyrics) | Published by Anabasis Music (BMI) and Raisin Music (ASCAP) | |
| 5. | "He's Coming Back" (Performed by Chris LeVrar) | Chris LeVrar | Produced by Afrika Islam Published by Anabasis Music (BMI) |
References
edit- ^ "Repossessed (1990) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com.
- ^ Martin, Mick and Porter, Marsha (2003), p. 915. DVD and Video Guide 2004. ISBN 978-0-452-29557-5. Ballantine Books. Accessed August 24, 2011.
- ^ MacInnes, Craig (December 4, 1990). "Time to can stale pea soup gag". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd. pp. D2. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (2009), p. 1147. Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. ISBN 978-0-452-29557-5. Signet Books. Accessed August 24, 2011.
- ^ "Repossessed on Rotten Tomatoes". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2011-10-06.