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!”
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