FILM REVIEW: 'EXORCIST' EXTENDED DIRECTORS CUT BLU-RAY

Classic Movie Receives the Blu-ray Treatment, Achieves Higher Quality & More Frights

By: Mark Amato

October 5, 2010

I was barely eight years old when The Exorcist was first released in 1973.  Based upon the popular novel by William Peter Blatty, the culture was well familiar with the story of an innocent twelve-year-old supposedly possessed by a demon.  By the time the film was released, audiences stood in line around the block -- which, despite Jaws going down in history as earning the term 'blockbuster' a year later -- The Exorcist definitely has a hand (or foot) in launching that word to the American vernacular.  At the time, the film's worldwide gross of over $400,000,000 was the highest earning film of all time (ironically, to be knocked off its perch a year later by Spielberg's Jaws). At the time, local news ran stories across the country about audience members passing out and throwing up during the film.  With a built-in marketing campaign, The Exorcist began raking in cash at the box office as curious movie-goers flocked to theaters to see what the fuss was about.  As much as I wanted to see it for myself, my parents readily refused.  I would have to wait until I was older. Fortunately, around 1980, Warner Brothers re-released The Exorcist to theaters across the country.  At 16, I was ripe enough to experience the phenomenon for myself.  

I'll never forget sitting in the movie theater with my friend when the first physical sign of the demon's possession appeared in Regan's body.  Her face began to contort with an evil glare as her throat expanded abnormally.  A chill quickly ran down my spine when, a few seats ahead of us, a boy around my age started to pass out, leaving his father to quickly escort him out of the theater.  The phenomenon was happening once again. Nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Actress (Ellen Burstyn) and Supporting Actress (Linda Blair), the film ultimately walked away with only two awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Sound. Blair lost out to another child actor at the time, Tatum O'Neal, who won for Paper Moon.  

Although overlooked by awards, The Exorcist represented some of the finest work of its cast, including Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, and Jason Miller as the hauntingly faith-challenged Father Karras, not to mention its director, William Friedkin (French Connection), and screenwriter William Peter Blatty. Despite the fact that The Exorcist has been relegated as one of the greatest horror films of all time, I contend it's one of our greatest dramas.  The plight of a single mother dealing with an unimaginable horror concerning her only child.  What levels would any parent take to save a daughter?  Burstyn conveys the pathos of a mother's desperation when Father Karras tries to convince her Regan needs psychological help. "Jesus Christ, you tell me that thing upstairs is my daughter!  You tell me!" Blatty, a comedy writer by trade (A Shot in the Dark), couldn't find work when comedies slowly became out of fashion.  He decided to write the novel The Exorcist based upon a case he read about in the newspaper back in D.C. where he went to college.  The exorcism involved a young boy, and the Catholic Church was called upon to intervene.  Intrigued, Blatty decided to fictionalize his story to involve a thirteen-year-old girl.  At the time, he lived next door to Shirley MacLaine, who was a single mother living as an actress in Beverly Hills.  It was here where Chris and Regan MacNeil were born. "I am now talking to the person inside of Regan.  If you are here, speak to me now."

The Exorcist managed to touch a multitude of hot button topics, including psychiatry and religion.  A director's cut, released a decade ago, includes a scene where Regan is prescribed Ritalin as a way to handle her odd behavior.  It wasn't for another decade before the medication became synonymous with ADD, over-prescribed by many in dealing with out-of-control children. Father Karras was assigned to the MacNeil case because he was a church psychiatrist assigned to priests who were experiencing a crisis of faith.  Ironically enough, Karras was experiencing his own crisis of faith upon meeting the MacNeils.  He represents the audience walking into that frightening manor in Georgetown.  Determined to find reasons to support a psychological explanation for Regan's transformation, we watch as doubt slowly disintegrates into harsh reality. "The power of Christ compels you!" The exorcism scene was the most challenging sequence to film, going over schedule and budget to shoot.  Filmed on a sound-stage cooled thirty degrees below zero, actors had to wrap parkas around themselves between shots to keep warm.  Many of these fascinating logistics are examined in detail in this very first Blu-ray release of the movie classic. Dubbed The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, this Exorcist includes several scenes never released before.  Amounting to twelve minutes of screen time, many of these scenes help to enhance the story, while others, including a frightening sequence involving Regan walking down the stairs on her back (known as the spider walk), only serve to stand in the way of the emotion of the moment. That said, it's fascinating to watch it all come together, nearly four decades later, in a movie that has ever since set the benchmark of horror.

The Extended Director's Cut also contains three fascinating new documentaries not to be missed.  Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist includes revealing set footage, make-up, and special effects tests which painstakingly examine how the film's final feats were attained.  The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now features a tour of the now iconic locations, including the ominous back steps which, to this day, reek with fear to anyone who goes near them. Lastly, Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist includes in-depth interviews with Friedkin and Blatty discussing different versions of the film, including outtakes.  Also included are original trailers for the film, including TV spots, sketches and storyboards, and other fascinating tidbits unearthed for the ultimate collection. Well worth the $34.99 SRP, this horror classic will continue to frighten generation after generation.

'The Exorcist' Extended Director's Cut is available from Warner Home Video now.