E is for The Exorcist. I first saw The Exorcist in a theater in 1973.
Shocking and disturbing, it is not a film that is easily forgotten. It won two
Academy Awards, one for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the other for Best Sound.
William Peter Blatty wrote the novel The
Exorcist, and also wrote the screenplay. William Friedkin directed.
The film is rated R for strong language and disturbing
images. This is an understatement. Unless you can stomach some horrific scenes
of a young girl’s possession by the devil, don’t watch this film.
Branded a horror film, which it definitely has elements of,
it is also a mystery/thriller. The suspense builds slowly as we follow the
descent of the poor little girl inexplicably chosen as a vessel for the devil,
and her mother’s frantic attempts to save her from what would be certain death.
Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is an actress living in
Georgetown in Washington, D. C. where she is completing a film. Her 12-year-old
daughter Regan (Linda Blair) is a sweet, artistic girl, and the relationship
between mother and daughter is loving and respectful. However, Regan begins to
act strangely, and the terror heightens as she becomes more and more violent,
accompanied by bizarre incidents in the house where they live.
Desperate to find a cure for her daughter’s increasingly
life threatening condition, Chris is told by psychiatry to seek out an
exorcist. Initially skeptical, she is finally left with no other choice.
Father Karras (Jason Miller), even while questioning his
faith, is drawn to helping Chris and Regan, and since he has training in
psychiatry, appears to be a logical choice. He contacts his superior who sends
for Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), a priest who has experience with exorcisms.
We first met him briefly at the beginning of the film at an archeological dig
in Iran. The two men boldly carry out the exorcism of the devil that has taken
possession of Regan.
I watched the Extended Director’s Cut of The Exorcist on DVD, so I don’t know
that it was exactly like the film I saw back in the 1970’s. But the disturbing
images I recalled from the film back those many years were still present.
I think you’ll either be intrigued by this film or turn it
off midway. There is no doubt it is well written and executed. Whether it is to
your tastes is a personal thing. As my faithful readers know, I always review
scary movies during the month of October for Halloween, and if you like that
type of film, you might want to watch The
Exorcist.
Ellen Burstyn went on to have a great career in film and was
an Academy Award winner for Best Actress in Alice
Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Linda Blair continued to work in film, albeit
for not such well-known movies. The
Exorcist placed both of them in the limelight and was a definite boost to
their careers. It is now considered a film classic.
Still my favourite horror movie, alongside The Omen that was about the same time I think. Good choice,
ReplyDeletehttps://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/05/e-is-for-echternach-luxembourg/
It is horrific. Some of those images are so traumatizing, I'll never forget them.
DeleteI have only been able to watch in the past 5 yrs. I tried many times to watch this in the past and either turned it off when she walked down the stairs on all 4 and definitely when her head spins around. Mercedes McCambridge was excellent as the devil, well, the voice. Do you know that many crew members, Ellen Burstyn and the director, William Friedkin, had unexplained things happen on set....freaky!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not an easy film to watch. I heard about that, the strange things happening on set. I bet they were glad to put filming behind them!
DeleteHi Sue - definitely not for me!!! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYes, watch a couple of the comedies I reviewed instead!
DeleteI've seen this one! :) Although I did not see it for a long time, I read the book first and it was years before I got round to seeing the movie. I'm not sure I really want to see it again any time soon, it's too disturbing :)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters
I agree. This is one film I won't watch ever again.
DeleteI also saw this in a theater when it first came out. People really lined up for this one and they mostly got the payoff for which they were looking. Over the years it's lost some of the impact for me that it initially had, but it's still a great film. I also went to the theater in the nineties when they released the Director's Cut.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
It was quite the sensation when it was first released, that's for sure.
DeleteI read two pages of the book and had nightmares for weeks. I have no desire to see the film! *shudder*
ReplyDeleteI would say don't see it. It is truly shocking in places.
DeleteI attended a summer program in my teens at Georgetown University and the Hitchcock Steps that Fr. Karras falls down at the end of the movie are one of the local landmarks. I have a photo of myself laying at the bottom of those steps somewhere (what can I say, I was a morbid teen).
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, ha! Good photo opportunity! It's fun to visit a location that was in a well-known film.
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