The Exorcist Blu-Ray Review

Rated R (Strong Language and Disturbing Images)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 2 Minutes (original), 2 Hours & 12 Minutes (extended)

Cast-

Ellen Burstyn-Chris MacNeil

Linda Blair-Regan MacNeil

Jason Miller-Father Damien Karras

Max von Sydow-Father Lankester Merrin

Kitty Winn-Sharon Spencer

Jack MacGowran-Burke Dennings

Lee J. Cobb-Lieutenant William F. Kinderman

Father William O'Malley-Father Joseph Dyer

Mercedes McCambridge (voice)-The Demon Pazuzu

Directed by William Friedkin 

"What an excellent day for an exorcism."

You know that unmistakable theme, the one that still sends chills down your spine even after thirty-eight years. Yes, I’m referring to the infamous Tubular Bells from William Friedkin’s 1973 horror masterpiece, “The Exorcist,” adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty. Hailed as ‘the scariest movie of all time,’ the film finally made its debut on Blu-Ray last October. Although there have been many great horror films, the genre has remained virtually ignored by the Academy Awards, with some extremely rare exceptions. “The Exorcist” received an unprecedented ten nominations in 1974, including Best Picture, and is one of two horror films to have been a major player at the Oscars, the other being 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs,” which remains as the first and only horror film to have taken home the top prize. Some may argue that it was a ‘psychological thriller,’ but that’s just pointless semantics and it shows how increasingly irrelevant the Academy Awards have become. While its impact and shock value has waned since its original release, “The Exorcist” continues to be regarded as one of the most influential horror films of all time and manages to convince us that a truly incomprehensible evil can exist in our world.

During an archeological dig in Al-Hadar near Nineveh in Iraq, Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) discovers the strange demonic statue of Pazuzu. Meanwhile, Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), an actress filming in Georgetown, begins to notice strange and disturbing behavioral changes in her twelve-year-old daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). During a routine check-up, the doctor explains that it’s just ‘nerves’ but Regan’s condition continues to worsen. She is subjected to a number of unpleasant medical exams but the doctors continue to find nothing out of the ordinary. Unexplained paranormal events occur at home, such as a violently shaking bed and strange scratching noises. The director working on Chris’ film is later found brutally murdered. When all medical explanations have been exhausted, the doctors recommend Chris to seek an exorcism and she consults with Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), who is both a priest and a psychiatrist. Karras is suffering from a crisis of faith after the sudden passing of his mother and initially doubts that Regan is possessed. However, it soon becomes increasingly clear that something malevolent has taken hold of Regan, forcing Karras to look within himself if he is to combat this unseen force.

“The Exorcist” works on so many levels due to its realistic take on the supernatural and focuses as much on the human drama as it does on the horror. Both the novel and film is based on a now-disproved exorcism that was performed in Maryland in 1949. Although the pacing can be slow at times, it is necessary as it shows how the fates of these seemingly disparate individuals are intertwined. The film’s focus is on the unending struggle against evil, not just with Regan and the demon that has taken over her but also as Father Karras grapples with his own doubts about his faith in God. When his mother suddenly passes away, Karras is devastated and questions why the God he has served unquestioningly could allow this happen. During the exorcism, the demon attempts to manipulate Karra’s guilt and it is only when he accepts that such evil can exist that he reaffirms his faith and makes the ultimate sacrifice. Father Merrin and the demon personifies the struggle with good against evil and in the film’s most famous scene, we see the aging priest looking up at the MacNeil’s bedroom window in what could be his final battle. The horror aspects are what struck a chord with the audience and the buildup is gradual but throughout the first hour, there’s this creepy sense of unease that something just isn’t right. Flashes of a demonic face are sprinkled throughout. We get small outbursts but the turning point is the infamous spider-walk scene where Regan’s body is unnaturally contorted as she runs down the stairs with blood streaming from her mouth. This was actually deleted in the original theatrical release due to the visible wire-work and was only added back in the 2000 extended version thanks to advances in CG. The most controversial scene is when Regan bloodily masturbates with a crucifix while screaming ‘Let Jesus f*ck you!’ When her mother attempts to stop her, she shoves her face down her crotch and smacks her, sending her flying across the room. Combined with the extremely coarse language and its unsettling atmosphere, “The Exorcist” affected audiences to the point where paramedics had to be called for people who fainted or went into hysterics. Nowadays, it’s unlikely a horror film would have such an effect as we have become desensitized.

The acting is superb and although the cast was comprised of largely unknowns, they explored their respective characters in a way that we could relate to. Ellen Burstyn is Regan’s mother, Chris MacNeil, who enjoys a close relationship with her daughter but as the situation spirals out of control, desperation sets in and when she pleads with Father Karras for help, we ask ourselves how this can happen to such good people. As Father Karras, Jason Miller’s subtle performance conveys the conflict and doubt he feels over his faith in God. Of course, the standout is Linda Blair and “The Exorcist” depends so much on her that if she was less than convincing for even a second, the film would’ve failed. Although Blair was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, this role proved to be both a blessing and a curse, as it became the defining moment of her career which unfortunately never took off. The only known actor was Max von Sydow as Father Merrin, who only appears in the prologue and the final thirty minutes of the film. He brings a sense of weariness to his character, one who has fought too many battles that has taken its toll on him. Unfortunately, as he was only forty-three years old at the time of filming, makeup was applied to make him look older and he sometimes took on a waxy appearance. In contrast, the make-up for Blair transformed her from a sweet young teen to a frightening visage with yellow-red eyes and rotting teeth. The voice of the demon, provided by radio actress Mercedes McCambridge, is chilling. Friedkin also went to extreme lengths to get the genuine reactions he wanted and both Burstyn and Blair suffered back injuries. The climax with the exorcism in Regan’s bedroom was actually built inside a freezer!

“The Exorcist” was released on December 26, 1973 to initially mixed reviews but opinions have changed over time and it is now regarded as a classic among horror films. It currently has an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus that it ‘rides its supernatural theme to magical effect, with remarkable special effects and an eerie atmosphere, resulting in one of the scariest films of all time.’ Roger Ebert compared it to Ingmar Bergman’s “Cries and Whispers” in that both films force ‘us to look inside, to experience horror, to confront the reality of human suffering.’ At the box office, the film earned a worldwide total of $441 million, including re-releases. The Blu-Ray contains the original theatrical cut and the extended 2000 version on separate discs and while both have their fans, the former is the definitive one. The extended cut, made at the insistence of Blatty and dubbed ‘The Version You've Never Seen’ when re-released in 2000 is ten minutes longer and contains more exposition but these scenes prove to be extraneous. Although the film is close to four decades old, the video quality is excellent and is the best it will ever look. Some scenes appear soft or extremely grainy but this is the way it’s meant to be. Audio is fine but some sound effects come off as too staged and muffled. Whether you feel it is scary or not, “The Exorcist” will remain as an unsurpassed horror masterpiece, an experience that will stay with you long after the end credits have rolled.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

“Especially important is the warning to avoid conversations with the demon. We may ask what is relevant but anything beyond that is dangerous. He is a liar. The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen to him. Remember that—do not listen!”