It’s pretty lacking, for sure; but in my research, there are at least three or four individuals, MVPS, shall we say, with very different views on what the prequel should have been. It’s certainly understandable to dislike either prequel film — or both — but it should be noted that the two films were merely interpretations of what could have been, some say, a better result; the John Frankenheimer/Caleb Carr/Vittorio Storaro effort that eventually went to Paul Schrader, before Harlin picked up the pieces and remade Merrin’s backstory in his own image, whatever the studio ultimately wanted; what they shifted to.
Trust me, guys. You’re in for a treat. 🙂
http://www.EVILAGAINSTEVIL.com
Blessings,
MG