The Exorcist has always been such an iconic horror movie since it’s theatrical release in December 1973 from Warner Bros and scared audiences since the subject matter had to do with the devil. The first time I saw the film was when I was 18, which was 20 years after the release, and I must admit was a bit scared but thoroughly enjoyed it from director William Friedkin (The Guardian [1990])) and author plus screenwriter William Peter Blatty.
Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn
The film opens with aging priest Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow (Hour of the Wolf [1968])) who is at an archeological dig in Iraq and comes across a small stone carving that looks very evil and then a larger version in the desert where dogs go crazy around it. The story now jumps to Georgetown with Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn (The Wicker Man [2006])), an actress, and is very worried about her daughter, Regan (Linda Blair (Hell Night [1981])) who is going through strange medical issues for example she urinates on the floor at a party, shouts at the top of her lungs, stabs herself, and her bed shakes. Her mother’s friend director Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran (The Fearless Vampire Killers [1967])) stops by one evening and upon her mother’s return home learns of the fateful demise of Burke’s tragic fall out of Regan’s window. She seeks medical treatment however doctors can’t find anything wrong with all of the tests results, so they suggest she seek a psychiatrist who then refers her to a priest for an exorcism. Here we meet Father Damien Karras, a priest who is losing his faith mainly after the death of his mother and meets with Regan who projects the infamous pea soup vomit at him but doesn’t think she qualifies for the exorcism until the words “Help Me” appear written on her stomach.
Linda Blair
While this is happening Lt. Kinderman (Lee J. Cobb) is investigating this fall as a murder and thinks that Father Karras knows something about it and comes to talk with Chris about it. Soon he leaves and Regan gets worse, and Karras realizes that something needs to be done and seeks council from Bishop Michael (Wallace Rooney) who then works out the details for the exorcist and gets in touch with someone with experience, Father Merrin. Father Merrin arrives at the MacNeil’s and you can see the classic scene below:
Max von Sydow
Father Karras gets what is needed for the exorcism and it begins, The demon gets into Karras’ head and Merrin makes him leave the room and when he returns Merrin is dead and Karras makes the demon go into him and jumps out the same window that Burke was tossed out of which means Regan is saved but did the demon/devil really die?
Max von Sydow and Jason Miller
I watch this scary film every year and it was even in the theater last year which is the first time I saw it on the big screen. One of the things I find strange about the movie is the priests that were chosen for the exorcism. I understand Karras since he knew the history, however because he lost his faith it wasn’t a good decision along with Merrin who had heart problems, and you see him taking medicine for it, so the demon was able to take advantage of the situation. Karras wanted to save Regan so the only thing he could do was to sacrifice himself. Another note, the voice of the demon wasn’t Linda Blair but none other Eileen Dietz (Lake Alice [2017])) who sadly was uncredited. Otherwise, it’s good to watch every year and it just happens to be in December. I highly recommend this film to anyone and not just horror fans but those who enjoy religious horror as well.
TAGLINES:
- What an excellent day for an exorcism!
- Something almost beyond comprehension is happening to a girl on this street, in this house …and a man has been sent for as a last resort. This man is The Exorcist.
- The Scariest Film Of All Time Returns To Cinemas.
- Something beyond comprehension is happening to a girl on this street, in this house . . . a man has been sent for as a last resort. That man is The Exorcist.
- The Devil Inside
- The Scariest Movie Of All Time Has Returned. In The Version You’ve Never Seen Before.
- Somewhere between science and superstition, there is another world. The world of darkness.
- Nobody expected it, nobody believed it, and nobody could stop it. The one hope, the only hope: THE EXORCIST
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
3C Rating: 8.0/10