Exorcist: The Beginning

The story opens with Father Lankester Merrin grappling with a profound crisis of faith, stemming from traumatic experiences during World War II. His past haunts him, particularly memories of being coerced by a Nazi commander into taking innocent lives to protect a village.

Seeking solace, Merrin embarks on a journey to East Africa on a sabbatical from the Church. Here, he immerses himself in history and archaeology, attempting to mend his fragmented beliefs.

After the war, Merrin works as an archaeologist in Cairo when a collector of antiquities convinces him to join a British excavation in Kenya's Turkana region. They are on a quest to uncover an ancient Christian Byzantine church believed to date back to around 500 A.D.

Upon arrival at the excavation site, Merrin and his companion Father Francis meet Major Granville, the British officer in charge. They also encounter unsettling characters, including a chief excavator whose ominous presence adds to their unease.

At the dig site, Merrin meets Sarah, a physician with a haunting past shaped by her experiences in a concentration camp. Their exchange highlights the trauma both have endured, and the bond steadily begins to form between them.

Merrin learns that local laborers are disappearing due to fears surrounding the church's supposed curse. His concerns deepen when he witnesses a digger suffering a seizure, hinting at the potential dark forces at play at the site.

The excavation reveals the Christian Byzantine church in an unsettlingly pristine condition. Notably, the angel statues defy traditional representation by holding their weapons down, which leads Merrin and Francis to suspect something malevolent lies beneath.

Merrin seeks guidance from Monsieur Bession, the lead archaeologist, only to find that he has been driven to madness. In a chilling encounter, Merrin witnesses Bession take his own life, deepening his anxieties about the true nature of the excavation.

As unsettling occurrences escalate, tragedy strikes when a local boy is brutally killed by hyenas. This violence causes his brother, Joseph, to retreat into a catatonic state, prompting Merrin to suspect a lurking evil that must be confronted.

Father Francis reveals crucial insights about the church's dark history, explaining it was built on the site where Satan was cast down. Merrin's investigation leads him to an ancient temple beneath the church, intensifying the unresolved tension.

In a shocking turnaround, Merrin uncovers that Sarah is the one possessed, leading to a desperate attempt at exorcism. This heart-wrenching moment culminates in tragedy as Sarah's life is lost in the process.

After the harrowing ordeal, Merrin and the traumatized Joseph emerge from the sand-buried church, mirroring a historical cycle of devastation. The chaos intensifies as British soldiers clash with local tribes over the unfolding events.

Merrin makes his way back to Rome, where he meets with the collector in a café. He explains his failure to recover the ancient relic, leading the collector to cryptically suggest that Merrin has uncovered something even more significant.

By the end of his journey, Merrin is seen wearing his priestly collar again, symbolizing a restored faith after enduring intense challenges. His confrontation with the demon has transformed him, setting the stage for future trials.