Exorcist: The Beginning

The plot revolves around the crisis of faith suffered by Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård) following the horrific events he witnessed during World War II. Now an archeologist in Cairo, Merrin is approached by a collector of antiquities who asks him to come to a British excavation in the Turkana region of Kenya. This dig is excavating a Christian Byzantine church from the 5th century — long before Christianity had reached that region. Further, the church is in perfect condition, as though it had been buried immediately after the construction was completed. Merrin is asked to participate in the dig and find an ancient relic hidden in the ruins before the British do. Merrin takes the job, but soon discovers that all is not well — something evil lies in the church and is infecting the region. The local tribesman hired to dig refuse to enter the building, and there are stories of an epidemic that wiped out an entire village. However, when Merrin, growing suspicious of these rumors, digs up one of the graves of the supposed victims of this plague, he discovers it is empty. Meanwhile, the evil grows, turning people against each other and resulting in violence, atrocities, and more bloodshed.

Beneath the church lies the ruins of an even older temple — but not a Christian one. Rather, in the ruins under the church, Merrin and his allies find demonic icons, and other signs of evil and Satanism. This land is where he first encounters the demon that calls itself Pazuzu, which he will encounter again in The Exorcist. This demon possesses several people, including a child which turns on his own brother and the priest's love-interest, the beautiful local doctor, Dr. Sarah (Izabella Scorupco).

At the end of the movie, Dr.Sarah has the demon exorcised from her and dies. Dr. Merrin and the little boy emerged from the church, (once again buried in sand) and history has repeated itself. 50 years ago everyone at the site was killed by an evil presence from the church except for one priest. Now, only Father Merrin and the little boy are left.